The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has set aside N3b as subsidy for the operation of the bus mass transit scheme.
Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed this yesterday, at the launch of the 300 buses for the FCTA Assisted Public Mass Transit Scheme in Abuja, yesterday.
The buses which are to operate on seven high capacity bus routes are to be operated by Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO), in collaboration with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
He disclosed that the federal government had allocated 200 high capacity buses to FCTA to service the entire territory and environs, while the NURTW had also been allocated 100 buses to operate in Abuja.
Mohammed further stated that to ensure the success of the scheme, the administration would also provide support by giving land allocation to operators to build maintenance workshops, depots and motor parks.
“In addition, we shall continue to provide necessary transport infrastructure and an enabling environment for all bus operators to effectively deliver their services to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he added.
The minister assured that the Abuja Light Rail project would be completed on schedule to ensure seamless movement within the FCT and neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Niger.
While responding to questions from journalists, Mohammed pointed that the earlier mass transit scheme operated by the FCT had not been successful because of mismanagement but assured that measures had been put in place to ensure that this does not go the way of the other.
“This is what prevented me from rolling out before now. We must have institutional framework that will make sure there is maintenance and sustainability. The other buses are there because there was recklessness and it was being run as a government outfit through patronage. We are bringing in the private sector to drive the scheme now together with the company,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for the FCT, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, assured that government was working assiduously to correct the impression of trust deficit in governance residents had complained about, pointing out the timely flag-off of the transport palliative promised by the federal government.