The Borno Government has maintained its subsidy on transport fares, easing commuters’ burden amidst fuel price hike, the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports.
The initiative is providing relief to Maiduguri residents through buses and electric taxis in the fleet of the corporation.
NAN reports that despite the fuel price hike, the corporation has kept the fares on its 80 buses, 50 electric taxis low, conveying passengers at N50 per in buses and N100 for taxis.
Many passengers, who spoke to NAN on the development, particularly workers, students and traders, said the impact of the subsidised government vehicles had been marvelous in their day-to-day activities.
“I want to thank the Borno Government for this foresight as the subsidised buses is saving us from N400-N600 charged by private transport owners.
“Fuel price hike forces many car owners off roads, swelling demand and causing overcrowding, as commuters scramble for affordable transport.
“I want to urge the government to sustain the good gesture, because good governance is all about easing suffering,” Maryam Haruna, a civil servant said.
Zakariya Peter, a student of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), and Mustafa Abba, a student of Borno State University (BOSU), said if not for the buses, many students staying off campus may not be able to cope.
They observed that with the latest fuel hike, a student needs nothing less than N800 to board private commercial transport to and from UNIMAID as against N100 using government bus.
“I reside in Hausari ward, I just need to trek a short distance to post office bus stop to board the bus to university for just N50 and later return back after my lectures in the evening at the same cost.
“Imagine the buses are not available, private commercial cyclists now buying fuel at the cost of N1000 and above per litre will definitely charge nothing less than N300 to N400,” Peter said.
A trader, who hawks clothing materials, Mohammadu Kamale, said he depended solely on the buses to visit many wards in the town to attend to his customers.
“Without these buses, I won’t be able to touch many places daily, because I will be operating at loss.
“We need to thank the Borno Government for this and to urge it to sustain the tempo by adding more vehicles to its fleet, ” Kamale pleaded.
One of the bus drivers, who simply identified himself as Babagana, said the number of patronage had increased, saying that the crowd of passengers was now beyond control, thereby leading to overloading.
“The moment you stop, passengers rush in to board the bus and you know you can’t tell anyone to go down if he/she insists on staying in,” he noted.
A driver of one of the electric taxis, who identified himself as Ali, said the taxis were allowed to carry just four passengers because of its small space, unlike the buses that have space for passengers willing to stand.
Mr Mohammed Dahaya, a Director at Borno Express Corporation, noted with satisfaction that the Gov. Zulum led-administration had spread its tentacles to reach out to farmers.
He said that apart from the subsidised buses and taxis operating in the town, the administration had also sustained its policy of free ride to farmers in Maiduguri whose farmlands were located outskirts of Maiduguri.
“Free shuttle service is also being provided for farmers, dedicated buses transport them to and from farmlands, morning and evening, at no cost.
“The free farmer transportation service on Maiduguri-Damboa route is under close monitoring by me,” Dahaya said. (NAN)
