The governments of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states have announced measures to cushion the hike in transportation caused by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
It was gathered that the state governments, which operate own transport companies, have continued to ensure that their fares remain lower than what obtains in motor parks.
In Borno, Gov. Babagana Zulum approved the release of 50 buses to address the situation.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mallam Isa Gusau disclosed that the buses will be added to the fleet of the state-owned transport outfit, Borno Express Corporation.
Gusau said that 30 vans were also provided to provide farmers, particularly those residing inside Maiduguri, free rides to the outskirts of the state capital where their farmlands are located.
A University of Maiduguri student, Mustapha Abdullahi and a government worker, Ali Modu who patronised government buses picking passengers at N50 per drop, lauded the government for the intervention.
“I patronise Borno Express buses every day, paying N50 from Post Office to the University of Maiduguri as against N150 being collected by taxis and tricyclists”, Abdullahi said.
In Adamawa, the state government had constituted a special committee on mitigating the effects of subsidy removal with the Chief of Staff to Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, Dr Amos Edgar as Chairman of the committee.
Edgar disclosed a plan by Adamawa Government to purchase shuttle buses for workers and inter-local government transportation at a subsidised rate.
He said that another measure taken by the government was the approval of N10,000 monthly subsidy for all workers and pensioners.
Director, Transport, Adamawa Ministry of Transport, Mr. Labaran Salisu disclosed that some of the 250 partially leased vehicles in the ministry’s custody for inter-state services, would be deployed for town service at subsidised rate.
In Yobe, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Goje said that plans were underway to provide free transport to students and civil servants.
“Very soon the state government will provide buses for free transportation for civil servants and students”, Goje disclosed.