By Idowu Oluwatosin
Edo State Government has inaugurated it’s free transport scheme to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal in the state.
Speaking at the State-owned Edo City Transport Ltd (ECTS) park, venue of the inauguration ceremony, Gov Godwin Obaseki, said the free buses was designed to help them overcome the hardship caused by the fuel subsidy removal.
Gov. Obaseki, represented by State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Chris Nehikhare, recently approved free transport service for passengers on all routes operated by ECTS.
The service, which spans an initial two-month period covers commuting within the Benin metropolis and other major towns, across the three senatorial districts between 6.30 am to 7 pm daily.
According to Nehikhare, Edo government takes the welfare of residents seriously and this is just one of the many ways we intend to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal for Edo people.
Similarly, the Managing Director of the Edo State Transport Authority, Mrs Edugie Agbonlahor, said the ECTC has been offering free bus ride for primary and secondary school pupils across the state.
She said that Gov. Obaseki has extended it to accommodate everybody in order to alleviate the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal.
”Transportation has always consumed 50% of budgets of parents, the gesture is to help them channel this money to some other needs, especially this time when our children are resuming and we know the burden on parents during the first term.
”His Excellency’s intervention at this time, parents can have a refund of their transport cost to enable them take other responsibilities.
“We are aware that ECTS has always given free ride to school children, but it’s no longer for school children alone, but for all Edo people,”he said
A beneficiary of the free transport scheme, Mrs Osarubo Obayuwana, who lives in Oko Central and spends an average of N800 daily on transportation was elated over the gesture.
she said, ”I am happy seeing the new arrangements by the s tate government, i want to beg government to sustain the service because people are really suffering.”
The transport service is expected to cover intra-city and intercity routes including Auchi – Igalla – Ibillo–Ososo; Uzebba–Ikhin – Otuo, and Abudu-Ubiaja, Abudu-Urhonigbe and Ewohirin to Ewatto.
The intra-city routes are Ramat–Kings’ Square; New Benin–King’s square; King’s square – Ekenwan Road; King’ sSquare–Airport Road; King” s Square–Sapele Road and King”s square – Adesuwa.
Other routes are: King’s Square–Ogida; New Benin – Upper Mission; King’s Square–Ugbowo; King’s square–Agbor Road; King”s square–Upper Sokponba; New Benin – Ugbowo and New Benin–Aduwawa.
