Mixed reactions trail take off of FCT transport scheme

The commencement, yesterday, of implementation of the new transport policy of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, turned awry as frustrated mini-bus operators smashed the windscreen of the high capacity buses deployed by the FCT Administration.

This came as mixed reactions also trailed take off of the new system by commuters and other members of the public.

The attack prompted some passengers to appeal to government to urgently provide security for both the drivers and passengers of the buses deployed to convey passengers to the city centre.

Meanwhile, commuters expressed divergent views about the take off of the new transport policy.

While some described it as the best thing to happen to the transport system in the FCT, others flayed the problems it had created for commuters who now have to trek some distance to board the buses.

A commuter at Mpape, a suburb of FCT, Mrs Joy Thompson, told Vanguard that the mini-bus operators had refused to convey passages to the junction where the high capacity buses were stationed to convey passengers to the city centre as they were technically thrown out of business.

She said: “People are trekking down Mpape hills to board the high capacity buses because the Araba (mini-buses) drivers have refused to convey passengers to Mpape junction.

Meanwhile, some of the drivers parked their buses, and the busy Mpape road is less congested.”

A passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the policy of the government was good but noted that the buses were inadequate.

“I welcome the new transport policy in FCT but the issue is that most of the buses were not released to ease movement of goods and persons. The government should consider this and act fast to reduce the stress the policy has caused residents,”.

A media personnel, Ms. Alice Okon, said sanity had been restored to the transport sector of FCT since the enforcement of the new transport policy.

According to her, there is no high traffic and reckless driving by mini-bus operators as it used to be in the past.

“This morning (yesterday) I got to the city centre I observed that there is sanity on the roads, less noise, a relaxed atmosphere, and also the high capacity buses are comfortable and safe,” Okon stated.

Some  of the commuters around the delineated zones were stranded due to none availability of public transport.

In some areas as Nyanya park, commuters refused to enter the high capacity buses,  as they complained of long queues, preferring private vehicles and taxi cabs which they considered faster.

It would be recalled the new transport policy of the FCT Administration, that is expected to  provide efficient transport system within the Federal Capital City, (FCC), commenced yesterday  with 350 high capacity buses deployed to various part of the territory to convey passengers into the city centre.

The Secretary, Transport Secretariat of FCT, Engr. Jonathan Ivoke, had while conducting a road show to various parts of the city to sensitize residents on the administration’s preparedness to commence implementation of the policy last weekend, assured residents that the new policy would ensure a drop in transport fare by about 40 percent for commuters.



Vanguard