Osun State Government has launched 19 buses, named “Imole Bus”, to mitigate the effects of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government on the people of the State.
The buses, Parralel Facts gathered, will transport civil servants, students and low-income residents of the state to their destinations at a low fare.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said in a statement that the government spent over N25 million to repair and maintain the buses, which were in a poor condition.
He added that the revenue generated from the bus services would be used to ensure their smooth operation and upkeep.
The statement quoted Alimi as saying, “The Government wishes to emphasise that virtually all the buses, due to their almost grounded status and of the road conditions, cost a total sum of 25,274,288.00 (Twenty-Five Million, Two Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight Naira) to ensure their roadworthiness to be able to carry out the new services of conveyance of people.
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“Accordingly, Osogbo, the Osun State capital, had five buses officially assigned to it for commuting people to the already earmarked routes. Ede, Iwo and Ikirun had two each, while the people of Ife/ Modakeke and Ilesha had three each. The remaining two of the buses are kept on standby for other contingencies that may likely come up from time to time.
“With Osogbo, the capital of Osun State used as a pilot scheme for the official commencement of Imole bus palliatives shuttle services, the government wishes to announce, with all sense of responsibility, that the bus services will be made to go around other towns and cities of the state very soon.
“The buses, it must be noted, are to work on two shifts daily as they ply all the officially designated routes, morning and afternoon of Mondays through Fridays. According to the arrangements, the morning services will be between 6:45 am and 9:00 am while the afternoon shuttles will be between 3pm and 5 pm daily. The government of Osun state wishes to reaffirm its commitment to never let the public down by always keeping to our campaign promises of putting smiles on their faces.”
The Osun government said the bus initiative was part of its efforts to provide social welfare and improve the quality of life of the people of the state. It urged the public to support and patronise the bus services and enjoy the benefits of the Imole Bus.