Borno State Offers Free Bus Rides to Non-Indigenes Amid Economic Hardships
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has launched an initiative to provide free bus rides for non-indigenes, enabling them to travel home and celebrate Christmas and New Year with their families in different parts of Nigeria.
The initiative, which aims to ease the financial burden caused by the federal government’s recent removal of fuel subsidies, initiative will provide 710 travelers with free transportation. Zulum, represented by Grema Zanna, the General Manager of Borno Express Transport Corporation, made the announcement on Monday in Maiduguri, saying, “Our free transportation initiative will facilitate the travel of non-indigenes to their respective destinations in the North-Central, Southeast, Southwest, and South-South regions.”
The governor emphasized that the initiative, which was first introduced in 2020, is part of his administration’s broader effort to alleviate the high transportation costs and the cost of living, particularly among vulnerable groups such as widows. “This initiative is designed to ensure that non-indigenes celebrate the festive season with their loved ones,” Zanna said.
In the first phase of the scheme, 285 passengers were sent to their destinations on Sunday, with another 285 departing on Monday. A final batch of 140 travelers left Maiduguri for their various destinations the same day.
In addition to the free transport, each of the travelers received N50,000 to assist with their journey. Chief Ugochukwu Egwidike, Chairman of the Ohaneze APC Support Group, confirmed that the same amount would be given to 250 widows who did not participate in the transport initiative, allowing them to celebrate Christmas within the state.
