Katsina State Government will provide free rides to school for children in the state. Thus, the state government has directed the state owned transport agency to make arrangement to ferry school children in the state to their schools during school hours, in line with the restoration agenda of government.
Governor Aminu Bello Masari who gave the directive while commissioning newly acquired vehicles by the agency at the government house katsina also assured that the state owned Katsina State Transport Authority will continue to support smooth transportation of goods and services in the state from one destination to another.
He further maintained that the decision to provide transport for the school children was part of measures aimed at cushioning the hardships the children and parents particularly in the rural areas encounter while going or returning from their schools. He added that transportation is very important and a key to the economic development and social interactions amongst the people of the state.
The Governor commended the transport agency for the successes recorded so far and its prudent management of available lean resources
He said ‘’when we bought new vehicles for the agency what we agreed with them was that part of the revenue they will use in purchasing additional vehicles since the revenue are not remitting to the state’’.
‘’The budget was to buy additional six from the savings and what we inspected is the third so they have three more to buy before the hour runs out’’.
He further assured that whatever his government can do to assist the people in fulfilling part of its obligations will be done as part of the state government’s responsibility.
In October last year, the State Government presented a soft loan of over one hundred Sharon vehicles to the state branch of the National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) as part of measure to create more employment opportunities and lessen the burden of transportation amongst people in the state.
Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager of the State’s Transport Authority, Haruna Musa Rugoji said the agency have been able to revamp the transport authority due to the early support received from the governor through the provision of 5 new vehicles which generated revenues used in settling outstanding arrears, pay salaries and maintain the fleets that were previously grounded.
He said ‘’when we came on board, the authority was having 106 vehicles and out of them, 57 were grounded while only 49 are road worthy’’.
He assured that the management of the company will be prudent in the provision of safety and comfortably transportation to its passengers.
