I have been hearing about the mass transit scheme launched in May by Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau. State to ease commuting in Jos Metropolis without the faintest idea of the extent the scheme has lit the tin city until I experienced it first hand.
My latest visit to Jos accorded me the opportunity to witness what could aptly be termed- going by the colour of the buses- the greening of Jos.
As one stands on any major street in the metropolis, one is bound to behold one of the brand new Man Diesel buses, either stopping by or whizzing past with commuters comfortably seated within.
At this stage one cannot help but commend the vision of Gov Mutfwang who was able to see ahead and launch a mass transit scheme even before the steady increase in the price of petrol hampered mass movement across the country.
With many filling stations in the Jos Metropolis selling petrol at N1200 and above per liter, many have been compelled to park their cars to use public transport.
It is not as if the public transport offers any respite because they also have to recover their expenses.
When, in May 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy and the price of petrol began to skyrocket, soon after, as the story goes, the Governor was ready with an answer that would provide succour to his people.
That was when the idea of running a transport business on behalf of the people and for the people was conceived.
Someone told me that as one who has interacted with the lot of the masses since his school days and later as chairman of Mangu local government, the Governor without hesitating, assessed the implications of the spiral effect of the subsidy removal to understand that if something drastic is not done as urgently, the effect on his people and the economy of the state would be disastrous.
He immediately took the action which culminated in the order for the purchase of 15 buses.
It is obvious, the Governor took the time to study why other attempts by predecessors had failed and came up with the idea of introducing security features to monitor the movement and utilisation of the buses.
That came with the need to build modern bus stops within the metropolis for the comfort and security of commuters which have also added to the beauty of Jos.
The investment in transportation, I was told, is based on the understanding that commuting is at the base of economic growth because without the movement of goods and service, socioeconomic activities would be hampered.
The vision paid off as while those in other states are lamenting that they cannot go to their offices, schools, farms or business places due to high transportation costs, that burden has been lifted off the shoulders of the average Jos resident with the introduction of the Tin City Metro buses.
The buses ply on routes such as Angul-D to Vom; Polo roundabout to Zawang
roundabout; Terminus to Zawang
roundabout; British America to JUTH; Terminus through Rayfield to YelwaJunction; Terminus through Tudun Wada, Low-cost roundabout to Wild Life Park; Terminus through Bauchi Road to Farin Gada as well as British American Junction through Angwan Rukuba to Farin Gada and back.
In all it covers the three local governments of Jos North, Jos South and Jos East while slightly touching parts of Bassa and Riyom LGs.
The people are happy because they can now commute with relative ease and this has boosted the economy of the state in addition to the many employments it created.
While other vehicles charge between N800 to N1000 for the distances covered by the metro buses the latter collects only a paltry N200 per trip.
This is done through the purchase of cards which amounts are debited per trip.
Little wonder that the buses are usually filled to the brim as people have come to realise the economic benefits of using the buses.This is not even mentioning the fact that the buses are brand new with glistening interiors and comfortable seats.
This is the conversation I had with a lady who sat next to me in one of the buses:
Me: You look worried, are you not comfortable?
Lady: Worried? No. I was only thinking how I could have coped without these buses.
Me: What do you mean?
Last: Hmm. I sell flowers near the CBN junction. And I have to transport from my house in Bukuru to my work place every day. Before I was spending not less than N2000 to and fro but now I spend only N400. If not for this bus that Baba Muftwang introduced my business would have crumbled because how many flowers do I sell in a day?
She’s not alone. A group of young men who work at various shops at Terminus were also full of praises to the governor when I spoke with them.
Said one of them. I would have quit my job if not for these buses. God bless visionary leader.
As I disembarked at the Old Airport Junction, I couldn’t help but wave at the bus as it made its way to Zawang Junction.
The vision of the Governor has saved many from becoming stranded.
