The Niger State Government is to inject 64 new buses to the fleet of the state-owned transport company – Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA).

Commissioner for Transport, Hajiya Ramatu Mohammed Yar’Adua, disclosed this on Thursday at Government House in Minna, the state capital, shortly after the state weekly executive council meeting. He said that the vehicles will cost the State Government N1.05 billion.

The Commissioner, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Dr. Abdullahi Imam, disclosed that the council approved the cost for the purchase of 64 brand new buses to enable the state transport authority provide affordable and alternative means of transportation to the people of the state.

Imam further said that the buses would provide intra-city and short inter-city services to the people of the state, adding that the payment would be done within a period of 36 months.

Dr. Imam said that the purchase of the buses would be done through Infrastructure Bank facility and will be supplied under the “Move Nigeria Scheme” of the Federal Government which all state governments through their transport authorities are accessing.

During yesterday’s meeting, the State Executive Council also approved the expansion of Baro Port from its present 10 square kilometrrs to 292 square kilometres, in order to regulate and ensure quick development at the Baro Port city.

The expansion which will soon be gazetted, is to further develop the potentials of the city and regulate its development following the just concluded dredging of the port by the Federal government.

According to the Commissioner, “The expansion is to ensure that the total land mass of the area is increased so that its potentials can be fully achieved.”

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