Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has unveiled 50 buses for members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers under a subsidised loan scheme aimed at improving public transportation and empowering transport operators in the state.
The buses were handed over to beneficiaries on Wednesday at the Government House in Gusau.
The governor also commissioned five fire trucks procured to strengthen the capacity of the Zamfara State Fire Service to respond to emergencies across the state.
This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris.
Speaking during the ceremony, Lawal said the initiative formed part of his administration’s commitment to improving the transportation sector while providing economic opportunities for commercial drivers.
According to him, the buses are being distributed to members of the NURTW as loans under the Zamfara State Loan Scheme, with the union playing a supervisory role in identifying beneficiaries and ensuring repayment.
“The buses will be distributed to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers on loan under the Zamfara State Loan Scheme. The union has agreed to participate in the identification, supervision and repayment of its members’ vehicles,” the governor said.
Lawal explained that each bus was procured at a cost of N27.39m, while the state government would bear 20 per cent of the cost as subsidy.
“Each vehicle was procured at the cost of N27,390,000. However, the government will provide a 20 per cent subsidy on the total cost of each vehicle.
“This represents N5,478,000 per vehicle. Therefore, each beneficiary will pay N21,912,000 for each bus over a repayment period of 44 months from the date of allocation,” he said.
The governor said the programme was designed to modernise the state’s transport system, improve safety standards and enhance the welfare of transport operators.
Lawal also inaugurated five newly acquired fire trucks, describing the acquisition as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and protect lives and property.
“We are also commissioning five units of fire trucks procured to ensure an effective firefighting mechanism across the state.
“We know that fire outbreaks can destroy homes, shops and livelihoods within seconds. These new fire trucks, equipped with modern facilities, will strengthen the capacity of the State Fire Service to respond promptly across every part of Zamfara State,” he said.
He urged personnel of the fire service to complement the government’s investment through professionalism and regular public sensitisation on fire prevention.
“I charge the Fire Service to complement these efforts by ensuring adequate training of its personnel, conducting public fire-safety sensitisation and keeping the equipment in serviceable condition at all times,” he added.
The governor further warned beneficiaries and government agencies against misuse of the assets, stressing that they belonged to the people of Zamfara State.
“These assets belong to the people of Zamfara State. I therefore direct all ministries, departments and agencies, as well as beneficiaries, to submit quarterly maintenance and utilisation reports to their respective supervising offices.
“I want to emphasise that vandalism, misuse or diversion of these assets will not be tolerated,” Lawal said.
