Date Published: 04/09/10

Delta Govt purchases 200 buses to ease transportation

            Delta state government has purchased 200 18 seater buses to increase the fleet of vehicles in the transport industry and reduce transport cost for commuters.

            The State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan who announced this at the commissioning ceremony of the buses promised to increase the total number of buses in the transport industry to 1000 before the end of his tenure.

            Dr. Uduaghan said the procurement of the buses will create employment opportunities for Deltans and warned the operators of the buses to restrict their movement to only the routes allocated to them to ply.

            He also warned that he will personally stop any bus plying the wrong route to check such abuses.

            The governor who promised to ensure that the vehicles do not disappear warned those with ulterior motives to steer clear of the vehicles.

            Dr. Uduaghan said it was to ensure that the vehicles were in safe hands that he shared the vehicles between Agofure Motors and Delta Line.

Explaining that past experience has taught him to be cautious he said “some people allocated to themselves some of the first fleet of taxi cabs this government bought.  They converted these vehicles to their personal use and God is seeing them.  We leave them in the hands of God.”

            The governor disclosed that it was not only the transport sector that his administration is fast tracking but is using the micro credit scheme to empower the rural populace.

            Dr. Uduaghan said that it was to reinvigorate the economic sector and boost commercial activities that the state government set aside 1.5billion naira for Micro Credit loan this year.

            Urging Deltans to form cooperative societies to enable them benefit from the loan promptly, Dr. Uduaghan said “Women Oye, Oh Oye chorused the women.  This 1.5 billion is already there.  The money has been kept and all you need do is enter into a co-operative society, so that you will benefit from it.”

            He used the occasion to announce the effort of his government in the health sector especially the free medical care approved for children below the age of 5 years.

            Commissioning the vehicles the Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper Mr. Nduka Obaigbena poured encomiums on the Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for being reliable and hardworking.

            Mr. Obaigbena commended the governor for transforming the face of Warri and Asaba even as he explained that with the giant strides in place Dr. Uduaghan has made himself believable.

            The Commissioner for Transport Mr. Lawrence Osiegbu in his remarks said the vehicle will traverse   300 villages in Delta State.

            Mr. Osiegbu said the state government will provide modern bus stop in all the routes to make the process comfortable and enduring.            

He promised to upgrade and boost riverine transport just as he also sought the co-operation of members of the NURTW in the state government to make the transport industry safe and peaceful.

            Highlight of the ceremony was when the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Publisher of This Day Newspaper Mr. Nduka Obaigbena rode in one of the buses.