Business
Jonathan Directs Govs To Empower Transport Operators
President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday directed state governors to empower private transporters to operate intra and inter-state routes to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
The Chairman of the Governors Forum, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, who is also the governor of Rivers State, made the disclosure after a closed door meeting between the President and the governors at the State House, late on Friday.
“We looked at mass transit because that is the first area the fuel subsidy has tremendous effect.
“Cost of transportation has sky-rocketed and we are looking at the possibility of ensuring that both the Federal and State Governments get private operators to operate mass transit vehicles.”
Amaechi said the meeting agreed to focus on job and wealth creation through revitalising mechanised agriculture to boost food security in the country.
He noted that the policy of deregulation had come to stay but noted that the government would collectively work to cushion the effects and apply the proceeds in the interest of the people.
“The governors agreed with the President that we are going to carry on with the removal of subsidy.
“We all confirm that yes, there is crises and we observe that people are demonstrating about it, but this is a sacrifice we have to make as a country to ensure that the oil industry is deregulated, so that we can save money for other developments.”
He said the three tiers of government would focus on the agricultural sector to create employment for the teeming population.
Amaechi said that the governors would run an open-door policy in the utilisation of the subsidy fund, in such a way that Nigerians should be able to ask the States and Federal Governments what accrued and how it was used.
The Tide source recalls that the President had summoned the governors to the emergency meeting, to agree on palliative measures on the fuel subsidy removal.
Vice President Namadi Sambo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, and Labour Minister Chukwuemeka Wogu were also present at the meeting.
The meeting which started at about 9 p.m. was attended by the governors of Anambra, Abia, Benue, Kwara, Kogi, Rivers, Edo and Delta.
Govermors of Cross River, Niger, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Taraba, Enugu, Yobe, Akwa Ibom and Adamawa were also in attendance.
Governors of Oyo, Zamfara, Lagos, Jigawa, Borno and Katsina were represented by their deputies.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.