The Ekiti State Government has begun deploying 15 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as part of measures to reduce transport fares by up to 50 per cent and ease the cost of movement for residents.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji said the buses, donated to the state by the Federal Government, would serve as a pilot scheme before the state expands the fleet.
The governor spoke on Thursday during the flag-off of the buses at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado Ekiti, as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Independence Day and the state’s 30th anniversary.
Oyebanji said the initiative was in response to the Federal Government’s directive to state governors to find ways of reducing transportation costs.
“The President charged all state governors that by October first, we should find a way of reducing transportation costs because most of the implications we are witnessing; transportation contributes a lot to it,” he said.
He said the 15 buses would be distributed to transport unions, while the state transportation agency would oversee their operation.
The governor, however, urged the unions to ensure that the savings from the use of CNG were reflected in the fares paid by commuters.
“My appeal is to the unions; they should allow the gains to translate to the commuters because this will reduce transportation costs by 50 per cent,” Oyebanji said.
The governor also thanked President Bola Tinubu for the intervention, saying the buses would help reduce the financial pressure of transportation on residents.
He said the administration would continue to explore measures to make public transportation more affordable and accessible across the state.
The Director General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said routes had already been mapped out for the buses to operate between Ado Ekiti and Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja.
According to him, the deployment would provide residents with cheaper and more reliable interstate transportation while reducing the impact of high fares.
Oyebanji also inspected ongoing projects across the state after the flag-off ceremony, praising the Federal Government’s economic policies for providing additional resources for states to implement projects and programmes.
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