Osun rolls out 19 buses as subsidy palliatives

• promises more goodies in a few days’ time

The administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke in Osun state officially rolled out 19 buses  on Monday, the 20th of Nov. 2023, as another effort to cushion the harsh effects of the petroleum subsidy removal by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The 19 buses, each christened “Imole Bus” are to specifically convey civil servants, students and the poorest of the poor residents of the state to their various destinations at a token amount, which in turn, will be used by the government from time to time for the smooth running and maintenance of the buses.

According to a statement by Mr. Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment “The Government wishes to emphasize that virtually all the buses due to their almost grounded status and off the road conditions cost a total sum of 25,274,288.00 (Twenty Five Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Eight Naira) to ensure their road worthiness so as to be able to carry out the new services of conveyance of people.

“Accordingly, Osogbo the Osun state capital has five of the buses officially assigned to it for commuting people to the already earmarked routes.

“Ede, Iwo and Ikirun had two each while the people of Ife/ Modakeke and Ilesha had 3 each. The remaining two of the buses are kept on a standby for other contingencies that may likely come up from time to time.

“With Osogbo, the capital of Osun state, used as a pilot scheme for the official commencement of Imole bus palliatives shuttle services, the government wishes to announce, with all sense of responsibility, that the bus services will be made to go round other towns and cities of the state very soon.

“The buses, it must be noted, are to work on two shifts daily as they ply all the officially designated routes, morning and afternoon of Mondays through Fridays.

“According to the arrangements, the morning services will be between 6:45 am and 9:00 am while the afternoon shuttles will be between 3pm and 5 pm daily.

“The government of Osun state wishes to reaffirm its commitment to never let the public down by always keeping to our campaign promises of putting smiles on their faces”.