Delta Procures 675 Vehicles In Three Years

The Delta Government inaugurated a total of 675 buses and taxis between 2008 and 2011 as part of its Urban Transport Scheme.

The Commissioner for Transport, Mr Benson Igbakpa, told newsmen in Asaba last Thursday that 170 taxis were inaugurated in 2008, while 505 18-seater buses were launched between 2009 and 2011.

Igbakpa also said that out of  the 505 buses, 40 were used as  the Schools Shuttle Bus Scheme to ease the transportation problems of school children in the state.

He said that 465 were given to the state transport service, Agofure Motor Limited (private transport line), and the National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW).

Another beneficiary is the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Igbakpa explained that the essence of the scheme was to provide the people of the state with affordable and comfortable transport service.

He said that the transport sector was an important component of the state’s economy, adding that it was also critical to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

According to him, transport is one of the key sectors playing a crucial role in achieving the MDGs goal of poverty eradication and sustainable development.

“The sector influences development in other sector of the economy,” he said.

The commissioner said further that the government also provided nine 38-seater buses for students in the various tertiary institutions in the state to ease their transport difficulties.

Igbakpa said three out of the nine buses had been distributed to the three campuses of the state university in Abraka, Asaba and Oleh.

He said, “Three have also been given the three state-owned polytechnics and the other three have been sent to the three colleges of education.”

Igbakpa also said that the state Executive Council had approved the supply of 50 Marcopolo buses in 2011 fiscal year to boost the existing Mass Transit Programme.

He explained that the buses would ply some urban routes with large number of commuters, and that the state would soon take delivery of the buses.