Oyo Earmarks N9.4bn for 106 Mass Transit Buses

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A total of 106 new buses would be purchased with the sum of N9.4 billion for the Oyo State’s mass transit scheme, Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, has disclosed.

Mr Adisa, in a statement on Wednesday, noted that the purchase of the buses will greatly assist the development of intra-city transportation in Ibadan and other parts of the state and also boost the economic development of the state.

It was disclosed that the decision to pay N9.6 billion for the purchase of the vehicles was reached at the Oyo State executive council meeting held in Ibadan yesterday and it was because the present administration sees transportation as a vital factor in the economic development.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Seun Fakorede, while addressing newsmen after the meeting, explained that the operations of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme as a major means of public transportation has been accepted in some Nigerian cities over the years, stating that the Pacesetter Transit Scheme is a good example of the BRT system existing in Oyo State.

“I wish now to state that the effort and the commitment of the present administration under the visionary leadership of Engineer Oluseyi Makinde are revamping the agriculture sector in the state.

“So, it is imperative that the state provides adequate and effective means of transportation, of moving persons, goods, and services, which will have a multiplier effect on commerce and economic development of the state,” he said.

The Commissioner added that “a company, by the name Petrobridge Nigeria LTD, has been identified as having the capacity and the capability to immediately supply 106 units of the buses to complement the transportation-related activities in Oyo State.

“And, to this end, it is worthy to note that there is an urgent need to purchase 106 units of brand-new buses to complement the fleet at the PTS and also to improve the mass-transit system in the state and, by extension, boost the economy of the state.

“Therefore, the council considered and approved the supply of 106 unit of brand-new buses at a total cost of N9,395,427,659.5 only, all taxes inclusive.”