PUNCH
The Osun State Government on Tuesday announced that it has officially rolled out 19 buses as part of efforts to cushion the harsh effects of the petroleum subsidy removal by the Federal Government, adding that over N25 million was spent to put the buses in good shape.
A statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the 19 buses, each christened “Imole Bus”, were specifically conveying civil servants, students and the poorest of the poor residents of the state to their various destinations at a token.
Alimi also said the money generated would be used by the government from time to time for the smooth running and maintenance of the buses.
The statement partly read, “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.
“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….
