THE Edo State government, on Monday, kicked off its free transport service for residents.
The move is in line with the government’s pledge to help ease the burden of the fuel subsidy removal on residents.
Recently, the Edo State government earmarked its state-owned Edo City Transport Service Ltd (ECTS) to provide free transport for residents of the state in their journey in and round Edo.
AfriqueCan gathered that the free transport scheme is set for an initial duration of two-months.
Governor Obaseki was represented at the event flag-off by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare.
The Governor called on residents of the state to benefit from the scheme as it was, after all, designed for them.
“The scheme has started since morning, and people are already enjoying it.
“We want Edo people to use the bus regularly”, he stated.
In addition, the Managing Director of the ECTS, Mrs Edugie Agbonlahor, pointed out that the state owned ECTS had hitherto made rides free for primary and secondary school goers in the state.
The new scheme, she explained, is aimed at extending these free services to residents as a whole.
“We know that before now, transportation has always consumed 50% of the budgets of parents.
“So, the gesture is to help so that they can channel this money to some of their other needs such as feeding housing, especially this time in particular when our children are resuming and we know the burden on parents during the first term.
“So, this is His Excellency’s intervention that at this time, parents can have a refund of their transport cost to enable them to take on other responsibilities.
“We are aware that ECTS has always given free ride to school children, but it’s no longer for school children but for all Edo people”, Agbonlahor said.
