Gov Yahaya Commissions 40 additional buses in Gombe
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, has commissioned 40 buses in Gombe State, out of which Gombe Transport Service would get 30 additional buses to enhance inter and intra state movements.
Our Correspondent reports that this would further enhance the services, and also improve revenue generation to the state as well as provide jobs to teeming youth.
The Governor said the commissioning of 30 additional buses for the Gombe State Transport Service, popularly known as Gombe Line, as well as bus donations to 5 Mega-Schools, Gombe State Students Association (GOSSA), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), was part of his commitment to providing affordable, convenient and reliable means of transportation to the people.
Commissioning the new buses on Monday in Gombe, the Governor said the Gombe State Transport Service, also known as Gombe Line plays a special role in the physical integration and social cohesion of the people by connecting the communities, opening up doors to travelers, facilitating the movement of goods and services, and providing job opportunities to the teeming youth.
He said, “With these additional buses, this brings to 80 the total of buses bought since the inception of our administration. This will no doubt enhance service delivery and help Gombe Line to open up new routes so as to better connect our people with other parts of the country. Gombe Line is our ambassador to the world that helps in connecting Gombe to the outside world and vice versa.”
He further explained that “the Gombe State Transport Service is one of the first areas of our governance reform programmes. Known in the past as a drain on public resources, we have repositioned it for improved service delivery and efficient management. Today, Gombe Line is able to meet its financial obligations to its lenders as at when due. We have transformed it into a commercially viable and fiscally responsible entity. It is now able to finance its operations and expenses from its own revenues, and at the same time provides subsidized, affordable and convenient transportation to our people”
Yahaya added that the aim was to provide the people with modern, robust, and high-quality transport infrastructure in order to meet rising demands, stressing, “Very soon, we are going to commission the Gombe Mega Park project, which we completed after it was abandoned by the previous administration. The project will give us a befitting motor park that will serve the needs of travelers and visitors alike.”
“Our administration is committed to continuing on this trajectory of financial discipline and prudence. Recently, we reorganised the GSTS under the sole administrator-ship of Usman Kamara in order to ensure efficient management and administration. I would like to commend the new management for the successes recorded under a short period of time. I urge them to take good care of the new vehicles and ensure strict maintenance culture.
“We are giving out 5 buses to our five Mega Schools in order to help them address their essential mobility needs. We are also extending similar gestures to GOSSA and NUJ in recognition of the constructive role they play in the development of our society. I urge them all to make good use of the vehicles,” he said.
