From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Commuters within Kano city have heaved a sigh of relief as Kano state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Sunday, launched the Kano City Mass Transit Scheme with a fleet of 100 buses and 50 taxis.
The transport scheme otherwise known as the Kanawa bus service will commence operation and services with brand new 100 buses procured at the cost of N2.5 billion.
The development is set to end problems hitherto faced by traders, Civil servants and students who arrived their destinations late, owing to inadequacies in city transport system.
According to Ganduje, the project was aimed at addressing transportation hiccups along Jogana, Yankura to Janguza corridors.
The vehicles painted with green and a stripe of white are set to commence operation on Monday.
Ganduje said the construction and extension of many roads, flyovers and underpasses and many other infrastructures are considered necessary for the commercially viable and industrious city.
He further stated that, “to ensure effective and sustainable benefits of the investment and functional transport infrastructure need to be provided for an efficient Mass transit system that will fit into the new prolific city like Kano.
“Hitherto, the absence of efficient mass transit has given rise to the proliferation of Tricycles as the main public transport vehicle in metropolitan Kano. As the consequences of this scenario, traffic congestion has reached critical level while security of lives are becoming a great source of concern.”
“The service is going to be operated by private operator to ensure efficiency and effective management on a public-private partnership. 200 buses are to be provided in the next year’s budget to cover other corridors.
“To achieve this directives, we have directed the state investment and properties limited to invest in the new taxis and give to on hire purchase to the members of the Tricycle associations to be displaced from the pilot corridor.
“This component of the scheme will be revolving until all the corridors are fully covered by this service,” Ganduje added.
Speaking during the launch, , the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Engr Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, who presented the vehicles, commended Ganduje for the gesture.
He appealed to stakeholders to handle the project very seriously and take it to greater heights.
According to him, the pilot scheme of the project will cover eight Local Government Areas within Kano metropolis.
