The Gombe government has reduced transport fares for Gombe Line Transport Company to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal.

Ismaila Uba-Misilli, the spokesman for the Gombe governor, said this while responding to a survey on state-owned transport companies’ status.

According to him, measures are implemented to ease the transportation burden on the people occasioned by petrol subsidy removal.

He said the company maintained a functional fleet providing effective transport services to boost business activities and ensure the comfort and safety of passengers.

He said Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has transformed the transportation sector in the state since the assumption of office.

Mr Uba-Misili said the government procured 90 buses between 2019 and 2022 to add to the company’s fleet. 

“The state government has subsidised transportation fare just as fertilisers and inputs to assist residents and other Nigerians accessing the state. There is subsidy because Gombe Line charge about N9,000 for passengers travelling to Abuja against N25,000 charged by commercial vehicle operators and N13,000 or N14,000 charged by the regular motor parks for the same route,” the official explained.

Mr Uba-Misili added, “This is also part of the palliative measures being rolled out by the government, just like the GO-CARES.”

Similarly, the Bauchi government procured 30 vehicles for the state-owned Yankari Express Transport Corporation.

The company’s chairman, Alin Bababa, said, “The zonal motor parks will enable passengers to travel to other places without coming to the Bauchi metropolis. It is part of strategies to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal on our citizens, especially students.” 

(NAN)