Oluwanifemi Ojo
The Edo State government has announced that it has extended its free bus services to all the routes covered by all Edo City Transport Service buses till Friday, February 24.
The Punch reported that the statement was made available by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie.
In the statement, the government claimed that the extension was required because of the state’s residents’ ongoing hardship owing to the naira scarcity.
According to the statement, “The Edo State Governor, His Excellency, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has extended the free bus service by all Edo City Transport Service buses till Friday, February 24, 2023.
“The extension became necessary because the cash crunch experienced by the people in the state has remained unabated.
“While the government intensifies efforts to bring a lasting solution to this issue, the government calls on the people to remain calm and law-abiding as normalcy will be restored shortly.”
This publication recalls that the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki had on February 16 announced its plan to begin a five-day free transportation relief plan for residents.
In the announcement made on his official Twitter page, “I have directed that beginning from today, Thursday, February 16, 2023, all Edo City Transport Service buses are to provide free services to passengers, as a means of reducing the effect of the cash crunch experienced by the people.”
“The directive is applicable to all routes and is effective till Monday, February 20, 2023, after which further announcement would be issued on the matter.
However, owing to the lingering naira scarcity the state extended the service for free transportation to February 24.
