Our reporter
Residents across Edo State have expressed frustration following the abrupt suspension of free bus services that were approved barely two days earlier by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The initial announcement, made on Monday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, had generated excitement among residents. The statement described the free bus initiative as part of the administration’s efforts to ease transportation challenges and provide relief to citizens in the three senatorial districts of the state.
However, in a surprising turn of events, another statement from the same spokesperson on Wednesday urged the public to disregard the earlier announcement.
“The earlier statement announcing the approval of free bus services by His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, should be disregarded,” the statement read. “The suspension follows a briefing received by the governor on issues surrounding the operations of the State-owned Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), the operators of the free bus services.”
The suspension has left many Edo residents puzzled and disappointed, as the free bus services were widely anticipated to alleviate the financial burden on commuters amid rising transportation costs.
“This is very disappointing,” said Mary Ogbemudia, a trader in Benin City. “We were already looking forward to some relief, especially for our children who go to school and workers who spend so much on transport daily.”
Others have questioned the state government’s communication strategy, arguing that the suspension reflects a lack of proper planning before the initial announcement.
Reacting to the development, civic advocate Osas Egbevo called on the government to clarify the reasons behind the sudden change and to provide a clear timeline for resolving the issues surrounding ECTS.
While no specific details were provided about the challenges faced by the state-owned transport service, the governor’s office assured the public that a final decision would be announced soon. For now, residents are left waiting, uncertain about when or if the free bus services will resume.
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