Subsidy: Makinde approves additional 16 new buses

The Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday approved the deployment of additional 16 new luxury buses to Saki, Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Oyo, and Ibarapa areas of the state to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizens.

This is in addition to the already 30 buses that were deployed for the same purpose within the State capital, Ibadan, about two weeks ago by the State Governor.

The total number of buses now captured under SAfER to cushion the effects of subsidy removal within the State is now 46.

A member of the 15-man Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) who doubles as the Chairman the sub-committee on Transport services, Alhaji Gafar Bello, made this disclosure while paying on the spot assessment to the Pacesetter Transport Service (PTS) where the new buses were inspected ahead of their deployment to the other zones of the State.

He was accompanied to the PTS company located at Eleyele by other members of the subcommittee, including the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Ademola Babalola; the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Kayode Martins, a Director of Transport in the State, Mr. Babatunde Olasunkanmi.

Bello expressed the commitment of the SAfER committee headed by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, to the timely delivery of the action plan conceptualised by the Governor to cushion the effect of subsidy removal and make life worth living for the masses, stressed that the committee on Transport including those of Food Security; Food Palliatives; Healthcare Services and SMEs were working round the clock to make the plan of the Governor a reality.

The immediate past Accountant General of the State and now Executive Assistant on Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning said the Governor approved the immediate deployment of 10 buses for inter-State movement of commuters from those towns to Ibadan at a very reduced price.

“Already, the residents of Ibadan are presently enjoying these new buses as movement from Iwo-road interchange to Orita-Challenge, and those of Amuloko-Beere, which used to be between N400 and N500, now goes for just N100 only. Many of our people are already appreciating the Governor for this gesture, as a number of our people now jettisoned their personal vehicles for these buses.

“The feedback we are getting has shown that our people are enjoying the intervention of His Excellency in the transportation sector. And this is why the Governor on Wednesday approved the immediate deployment of additional buses to commute residents traveling to and from Saki, Iseyin, Ogbomoso, Oyo, and Ibarapa areas to Ibadan. Two buses 56-seater and 40-seater, have been deployed to each of these major towns.

“And it is also expected that by the middle of next week, an additional six would be available for movements of passengers at short distances within these towns and environs.

“All these efforts are just the tip of the iceberg as food palliatives to 200,000 vulnerable households; 100,000 healthcare services; food security where grains and N500million would be given to deserving farmers and another N500million for Small and Medium Enterprises are all in the offing, and our people would start benefitting from them before this month runs to an end.”

Bello sought the support and cooperation of the people for the State Government in its avowed commitments to ensure a drastic reduction in poverty and mitigate the effects of subsidy removal amongst the citizenry.