As part of new measures to cleanup Owerri, the State capital from the site pollution arising from loitering of rickety tricycles and taxi cabs, the Imo State Government weekend launched a modern urban mass transit scheme.
The new scheme coming at the heat of rising state backlog of workers’ salaries and pension, according to government is designed to raise the standard of the state capital. The new vehicles comprises of taxi cabs and luxurious buses that will service the metropolis.
The Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said the scheme had become important following the sporadic surge in the population of the state capital which he said had risen to over 70 per cent in the last few years following his government’s urban redevelopment agenda.
Earlier in her address, the State Commissioner for transport, Mrs. Josephine Udorji said the new transit scheme is to create jobs and raise the aesthetics of the state which had been frustrated by sites of poorly maintained vehicles.
She said the scheme will further reduce unemployment and raise the standard of living of residents as they will only charge N50 per drop.
In an interview, the state chairman of Transport taskforce, Mr. Kinsley Uju said the scheme will alleviate the sufferings of transporters and commuters in Owerri municipal.
