National Issues
The Other Side Of Subsidized Metro City Transport In Maiduguri -By Yusuf Ibrahim
Many people particularly the Females do concerned on Mingling between male and Females during boarding the buses, as Borno People were very sensitive on their Norms, Culture and Religion. To separate the Male and Female seat will be a better one.
After the removal of Fuel Subsidy by the inception of the present regime, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Monday September 2023, unveiled a new fleet of 70 buses for metro transport and to ease the movement of civil servants to their various places of work.
The initiative aims to alleviate the burden of commuting for both government employees and the general public.
The new fleet of buses, specially acquired for this purpose comprised of standard-sized buses and larger buses to accommodate a greater number of passengers.
Each vehicle is equipped with modern amenities, including air-conditioning facilities and comfortable seating arrangements to ensure a pleasant commuting experience.
Governor Zulum while launching the buses noted that this second phase of the intervention in the transport sector is to alleviate suffering due to the removal of fuel subsidy and 30 out of the total 70 buses will be dedicated to conveying civil servants to their places of work from 7:00 am to 9:00 am pick ups and return 3:00 pm to 5:00 from Mondays to Fridays.
Maiduguri residents are now counting the importance of the introduction of Metro Bus Transportation such as the initiative would change the lives of many people in the state, many students and civil servants have resorted to the use of buses to work and school, some may save money from their salaries to do other things. In a nutshell it crushes Commercial Transport fare in the City which most a time increase in Fuel Price lead to high cost of living.
Though the Metro Subsidized Transport system which been applauded by many has other side that posed many challenges to the Maiduguri communities. not checked will jeopardize the initiative aims to alleviate the burden of the general public
One of the challenges in Metro subsidized Transport is Overloading, a seat meant for One, Two or at least Three person for comfort but opposite is the case where an additional Seat which is popularly refers to “ Attachment “ been placed in between the seats so as to accommodate more passengers while it discomfort many.
Many are complaining of the Rushing attitudes by the Passengers to board the buses cause’s injuries to many particularly the pregnant women and other vulnerable including the Teenagers
Some Maiduguri residents find it difficult to board on such Buses for Discomfort nature of the buses where the Standing Passengers double the seated ones and it led to Commotion and discomfort while in Transit.
The issue of Phone theft and Picking Pockets in some of these Buses cause serious concern among Maiduguri residents which barred many from boarding these affordable Buses.
Many people particularly the Females do concerned on Mingling between male and Females during boarding the buses, as Borno People were very sensitive on their Norms, Culture and Religion. To separate the Male and Female seat will be a better one.
Because it is a Public Transport, many passengers doesn’t have interest to report or expose any activity that will affect the smooth running of the Buses.
Likewise, lack of conducive parking space for these buses causes traffic Jam in most crowded area like Post Office round about in Maiduguri and other areas.
For the aim of the scheme to be achieve ,the Management of Borno Express Corporation enforce one man one seat policy in all the buses to comfort the passengers and avoid commotion while transit.
A booking system should be introduced by the management so that the passenger may have ticket with seat number, this will help in reducing the scramble to get seat.
Strict Measure should be taken against phone snatching and other criminality through employing the services of Civilian Joint Task Force and with synergy with security operatives to checkmate the activities of people of the underworld.
The management of Borno Express as a matter of urgency should provide separate female only Buses to lessen the suffering of the female passengers while boarding the buses.
Good parking spaces should be provided for the buses this will assist in reducing traffic Jam and other related issues arising from Metro Buses Transport Maiduguri.
If the aforementioned recommendations been observed it will assist in achieving the aim of introducing the Metro City Bus Transport by Borno State Government.
YUSUF IBRAHIM three Hundred Level Department of Mass Communication Borno State University( BOSU) Maiduguri.
