Ododo Urged To Deploy Mass Transit Buses In Kogi

A non-governmental organisation, the Initiative for Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), has called on the Kogi State government to deploy mass transit buses in the state’s major cities to cushion the rising transportation fares faced by residents.

The appeal was contained in a statement issued by the executive director of INGRA, Hamza Aliyu, and made available to journalists in Lokoja.

Aliyu expressed concern over what he described as a worsening transportation crisis affecting residents of major urban centres such as Lokoja, Okene, Idah, Kabba, and Ankpa.

According to him, the situation has been worsened by the sharp increase in fuel prices linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the resulting volatility in global oil markets.

He noted that, despite the organisation’s previous public calls and press statements urging the state government to establish a functional mass transit system, little or no concrete action has been taken to alleviate the hardship faced by residents.

Aliyu said the current situation has pushed transportation costs to alarming levels, with workers, students, traders, and low-income families bearing the brunt of the economic strain.

“For many residents who depend on daily transportation for their livelihoods, the rising cost of commuting has significantly reduced disposable income, disrupted economic activities and worsened living conditions,” he said.

The INGRA Executive Director recalled that the organisation had repeatedly drawn the state government’s attention to the urgent need for a government-supported mass transit scheme, particularly in urban centres where commuter traffic is highest.

He explained that an efficient and affordable public transport system would help reduce the cost of living, improve mobility and enhance productivity across the state.

Aliyu lamented that the absence of a structured mass transit intervention has left citizens vulnerable to arbitrary transport fare increases and exploitation during periods of economic hardship.

The organisation therefore urged the Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, to take immediate steps to address the situation.

Among its recommendations were the deployment of state-supported mass transit buses across major urban corridors in Lokoja, Okene, Idah, Kabba and Ankpa; the establishment of regulated transport routes and fare structures to prevent arbitrary price hikes; and the provision of targeted transportation support for workers, students and other vulnerable groups.

INGRA also called for the development of a sustainable state mass transit programme capable of responding to future economic shocks.

Aliyu stressed that transportation remains a critical component of economic stability, noting that when the cost of movement becomes unbearable, markets slow down, productivity declines, and the local economy suffers.

He added that addressing the transportation challenge is not merely a social intervention but an essential economic policy response.

The organisation urged the state government to act swiftly to mitigate the hardship faced by residents, warning that prolonged inaction could worsen the economic and social consequences for the people.

Aliyu reiterated INGRA’s commitment to advocating policies that promote economic justice, transparency and people-centred governance in Kogi State.