The Niger Government has spent N432 million to purchase 18 brand new Toyota Hiace buses for mass transit in the state.
Alhaji Ibrahim Panti, the State Commissioner for Transport disclosed this at a press conference in Minna on Friday.
He said the buses were provided for Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA) in 2016 and 2017 to ease mass transport services across the state.
Panti said the ministry was able to generate N80.3 million in 2017 and N95.2 million in 2018.
The conference was called to list achievements of the ministry in the last three and half years.
He also said the ministry purchased 3,000 life jackets for boat travellers.
According to him, the jackets were meant to reduce casualties of boat mishaps in the state, which recently claimed 28 lives.
He noted that the government would soon enforce the wearing of jackets for all water travellers.
“A 12-seater watercraft with 7.5 horse power engine was purchased for residents of Kuta and Muregi to sensitise communities on government policies.
“It will also help in surveillance and patrol in the case of any eventuality in the waterways,’’ he said.
The commissioner said plans were underway to establish a Motor Vehicle Administration Agency for motorcycle administration, traffic regulation and traffic-related generation.
He said 4,000 coded reflective jackets had been procured for easy identification of motorcycle riders to improve safety of lives especially at night.
He said the ministry would work to improve its partnership, provision of infrastructure and revenue generation in 2019. (NAN)
