Governor Simijialayi Fubara of Rivers State, rolled out passenger buses for free intrastate transportation of people of the state, as part of his administration’s interventions to cushion the high cost of living posed by fuel subsidy removal.
Vanguard reported that the governor, represented by his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, unveiled the 17 luxury buses in Port Harcourt to convey commuters on major routes in the state capital and beyond in fulfilment of a promise made to organised labour weeks ago.
Fubara noted that his administration was “aware of the challenges faced by the populace as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy. Consequently, this scheme flagged off today is a deliberate intervention of the Rivers State government to mitigate the effects of the economic challenges.
“We charge operators of these buses to be committed, dedicated and show due diligence in the operation and maintenance of these buses, same way we call on the public, end users of this scheme to conduct themselves in decorum to ensure maximum benefit from the opportunity.
“For us (government) we owe you (Rivers people) what is happening today because you voted for us and gave us the mandate to lead your government. This is a gift from the government you elected. And many more gifts will come your way.”