AS a resident in Delta State, one development that has impressed me greatly is transport. The administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has no doubt given transportation uncanny attention deserving of some mention.

Part of this transformation agenda has made Delta Line buses, with their white and blue colour, a common feature in towns and villages of the state and many cities in Nigeria. This leads me to conclude that across Nigeria, Delta State comes tops in such well-organised, integrated transportation structure with public buses almost outnumbering privately operated buses.

Because of what I observed, I decided to research further the extent and impact of Delta government transport policy.

The intervention in transportation  became prominent in 2008 with the establishment of the Delta State urban mass transit scheme and the launching of 168 brand new Toyota Corolla cars by Governor Uduaghan. Some of the Toyota set of cars were given out to interested drivers as part of government empowerment programme; others were allocated to the Delta Line Transport Company for commercial purposes.

In 2009 and 2010, the state government further increased the fleet with the purchase and commissioning of 100 and 200 brand new Hiace buses. This wholistic approach in transportation should be recognised as a major infrastructure development, a critical component of the three-point agenda of the Uduaghan administration. It is also a demonstration of the administration’s total commitment to opening up the state to attract tourists and investors.

By the acquisition of 800 vehicles, comprising Hiace buses, Toyota taxi cars and Marcopolo buses, the Governor has stemmed the hitherto crisis that greeted the transport sector during the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector early 2012.

Similarly, in marine transportation, hundreds of 19U speed boats have been acquired, while several jetties have been built in the coastal communities. Over 21 of such landing jetties were provided between 2008 and 2010. The Delta publics, who are mainly the beneficiaries, have shown great enthusiasm and gratitude to their loving governor for this intervention, particularly, with the regulated fare. The downward review of the fares has had tremendous impact in the State as it has put private operators in check.

In a random poll which I conducted across Delta State over several months, I found many respondents reacting differently to the state government’s programme, especially after the introduction of tricycles, popularly called Keke, in addition to the buses and the regulated use of motorcycle in certain communities in Delta communities.

For example, a tricycle
operator in Asaba, the state capital, Mr. Jonathan Ator, believes that the regime of tricycles and buses has been very beneficial to both the operators and commuters. To the operators, it has restored sanity in the sector and reduced frequent accidents occasioning limbs and leg fractures. “I feel a lot safer driving my tricycle, and the daily turnover is mouth-watering”, says the unemployed Sociology graduate who prefers it to Okada for the safety it offers. Another commuter, this time a house wife and civil servant, Mrs. Ruth Okuns, said, even though, it is yet to reach the door steps of many homes, it guarantees more safety for her and her little kids who daily employ the services of tricycles for school runs. She commended Uduaghan’s initiative in this direction. Jaros Jarikre, who combines work and schooling and traverses Asaba where he works and Abraka, his school location, described the revolution as God’s intervention. A ride to Abraka from Agbor, he said, is one of comfort. “All of us on this route have called the bluff of these shylock private operators, which hitherto have made travelling a nightmare. At the moment, those private buses hardly exist. I doubt if they still exist.

Deacon Aburi Adams, said members of the public have embraced the revolution as society and government are dynamic. There is nothing wrong with the innovation. He lauded the state government for its policy directives in the transport sector, describing it as wonderful. However, he called on the government to make the roads more motorable so that more tricycles can reach the door steps of the commuters.

A public analyst in Warri, the commercial city of Delta State, Mr. Richards Achums, described the Uduaghan revolution in the transport sector as novel. He said in Delta State, commuters feel very comfortable with government intervention. The visibility of Delta Line buses, now popularly known as Uduaghan Buses in every part of the state has made transport fare very competitive. The masses now have alternative.

What is not lost on me is that this revolution which the Governor brought into the transport sector of the state underscores the government’s commitment to good governance. The mass transit programme, though remarkably a populist programme, has helped to ease the burden of the people greatly.

The economic vision did not only cushion the hardship of the deregulation of the downstream sector, it also provided jobs for youths in commercial transportation and today it is a success story.

At the last count, Governor Udaughan administration has procured 800 vehicles comprising Toyota taxi cabs, 500 Hiace buses, 60 Marcopolo buses, 10 Tata buses and 130 boats deployed to various communities in the state. This has immensely improved the transport sector and reduced the stress associated with daily movement of Deltans.

Mr.   EJIRO IDAMA, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.