Kogi Assembly calls on state govt to expand, reinvigorate Mass Transit System

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

IN the bid to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the people especially in transportation, Kogi State House of Assembly has appealed to the State Government to expand and strengthen its Mass Transit System for better coverage.

The call was contained in a resolution of the House reached at plenary in Lokoja following the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance raised by Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani (APC-Lokoja I), urging government intervention.

Soliciting the support of the legislators for the motion, Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani pointed out that transportation remained a primary economic factor for socio economic development of any nation.

He said that the call had become imperative in view of the harrowing experience of the people adding that transportation “does not only provide market accessibility but remains a major economic factor of production of goods and services.

Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani who noted that the establishment of Kogi Express was to provide a world class intra and inter-city and inter-state transport services.

He however regretted that poor management of the company negated and deflated the objectives and achievements of the company.

“Citizens of the State in Lokoja the State Capital are now left at the mercy of commercial Keke and Okada riders, whose charges are not regulated but indiscriminate”, he said.

The lawmaker expressed concern that Lokoja, the State Capital despite the location of the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue does not have an efficient Mass Transit System and a functional water transport system.

He therefore charged the State Government to direct the Ministry of Transportation to conduct an immediate assessment of the Kogi State Transport Company with a view to standardizing its services for improved service delivery.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Usman Ochidi (APC-Dekina-Biraidu) urged the State Government to constitute a committee to monitor pump price of petrol in various filling stations enforce extant laws regulating to price, “so as to reduce the hike in price of private transport system.”

Supporting the motion, Hon. Jibril Abuh (APC-Ajaokuta) and Yusuf Zakari (APC-Okene II) aligned themselves with the motion, praised the mover of the motion which they described as timely in view of the effect of increased cost of petrol.

Ruling on the motion, the Speaker pro-tempore who is also Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Comfort Unwuchiola Egwaba commended Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijani for moving the timely motion.

Egwaba directed the Clerk, Alhaji Ahmed Chogudo to pass the resolution to the appropriate quarters for immediate implementation and urged the implementing agencies to swing into action. (Ends)