Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, has inaugurated fifty brand new 18-seater luxury buses to improve the operations of the State mass transit services.
Speaking at the inaugurating ceremony in Gusau, the state capital, Governor Lawal described the development as a new chapter in Zamfara’s transport history.
He said his administration is committed to ending years of waste and mismanagement in the sector.
According to the Governor, the buses are equipped with modern safety and comfort features, including air-conditioning, cushioned seats, seat belts, and GPS tracking devices, to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable transportation for citizens.
Dr Lawal explained that, the delay in deploying the buses after their arrival was deliberate, noting that government had first established monitoring and accountability frameworks to ensure sustainability and prevent mismanagement that plagued previous interventions.
The Governor further disclosed that, staff of the state transport company including drivers, mechanics, ticketing officers, and management personnel underwent intensive training covering technical skills, ethics, and customer service.
“Maintenance plans have been drawn, revenue collection will be automated, and leakages will be blocked. Technology will be employed to track the movement of the buses, the efficiency of the routes, and the accountability of the staff”
“These buses are for our students, market women, civil servants, farmers, patients, and every citizen who deserves affordable and safe movement,” he said.
He assured that, fares would remain affordable through government subsidy, while automated revenue collection and preventive maintenance would sustain operations.
“Our State, Zamfara, sits at the heart of the Northwest, linked to Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Kaduna, and connected onward to Abuja, to Bauchi, and to Gombe. These routes are lifelines of commerce, education, healthcare, and social connection”
“By stationing these buses along these corridors, we are not only easing mobility within Zamfara but connecting our people to the rest of the nation. Our traders will reach wider markets”
“Our students will attend institutions without undue burden. Our families will remain connected. Our civil servants will travel to workshops, conferences, and duty stations without unnecessary hardship”
Dr Dauda Lawal added that, the initiative, would create jobs and stimulate economic activities across the state.
The Governor pledged to expand the fleet, rehabilitate bus terminals, and introduce digital services such as online booking and cashless payments in the near future.
Dr Lawal also appealed to residents to patronize and protect the buses, warning against vandalism and misuse of public property.
“With humility and gratitude, I commission these fifty buses into service. May they serve faithfully and safely, and may they stand as symbols of a new era of responsibility and progress in Zamfara State,” Governor Lawal declared.
Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawal Barau Bungudu, assured that the number of buses would be increased next year to further improve accessibility.
He pledged that, all revenue generated would be remitted into the state government’s account.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Governor’s second-year anniversary committee and Chief of Staff, Mukhtar Luggaga, announced that, the buses would commence full operations immediately.
Lugga described the development as a dividend of democracy for the people of Zamfara.
On his part, the Managing Director of the Zamfara State Mass Transit Authority, Ukashatu Abdullahi, commended Governor Lawal for his commitment to uplifting the transport sector through the provision of modern buses.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by key stakeholders in the transport sector, traditional leaders, government officials, and other dignitaries.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
