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Fuel Subsidy Removal: Obaseki Flags Off Free Bus Service [PHOTOS]

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, flagged off the free bus service for passengers on all routes operated by the state-owned Edo City Transport Limited (ECTS) as part of efforts to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government on the people of the State.
The free transport scheme is expected to cover intra-city and intercity routes including Auchi – Igarra – Ibillo–Ososo; Uzebba–Ikhin – Otuo, and Abudu-Ubiaja, Abudu-Urhonigbe and Ewohirin to Ewatto.
The intra-city routes are Ramat–Kingsquare; New Benin–Kingsquare; Kingsquare – Ekenwan Road; Kingsquare–Airport Road; Kingsquare–Sapele Road and Kingsquare – Adesuwa, Kingsquare–Ogida; New Benin – Upper Mission; Kingsquare–Ugbowo; Kingsquare–Agbor Road; Kingsquare–Upper Sokponba; New Benin – Ugbowo and New Benin–Aduwawa.

READ ALSO: Fuel Subsidy Removal: Obaseki Begins Free Transport Service Across Edo
Speaking during a formal ceremony for the commencement of the free bus service in ECTS terminal in Benin City, Governor Obaseki, who was represented by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, said his government remains committed to the wellbeing and support of the people and will sustain efforts to reduce the hardship inflicted on the people by the subsidy removal.
He stated, “We call on all Edo people to use this service effectively and ensure they use it regularly as it benefits all of us. His Excellency takes the welfare of Edo people seriously and this is just one of the many support programmes that this administration has put in place to reduce the challenge, sufferings and cost of living faced by Edo people as a result of the subsidy removal.

“This service has commenced since 6am today September 11th, 2023 but we are declaring the service open today to the glory of God and the service will last for two months in the first instance.”
Speaking on the free bus transportation scheme, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Edo State Transport Authority, Edugie Agbonlahor, said, “We are all aware that the Governor has directed Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) to offer free bus service to all commuters in Edo State travelling within Benin Metropolis and travelling from Benin City to the major cities across the three Senatorial District of the State.”
READ ALSO: 7 Million Documents Archived As Edo Transits To Paperless Govt Sept 1 – Obaseki
She further stated, “His Excellency’s thoughtful intervention is as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy and its negative impact on Nigerians. As at today, transportation cost is over 50 per cent of an average worker’s income and this intervention is to release funds back to the people to enable them take care of other needs like feeding housing, especially the burden of resumption for a new term for pupils across the State.

“This free transportation will return money back to parents to enable them to take care of some other family needs. ECTS before now has been offering free rides to school children and now to all Edo people. It’s our hope that we all enjoy this free ride made possible by the governor.”
A Federal Civil Servant, Mr. Ojekwua Kingsley while commending the governor for the initiative, said the free bus scheme will seriously reduce the effect of the hardship brought about by the removal of oil subsidy by the federal government.
According to him, “We are looking forward to more palliatives from Mr. Governor and commend him for this great move to reduce the pain that citizens are facing.”

At the Ikpoba Hill Bus Terminal where passengers board ECTS bus to Edo North, Mr. Edohor David who is travelling to Auchi hailed the governor, noting, “This bus is going to Edo North, Auchi, Igarra, Ososo, Ibilo and all the passengers entered for free. We have started enjoying the palliative; all thanks to the governor.”
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JUST IN: Tinubu Decorates New Service Chiefs

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday decorated the new service chiefs with their respective ranks at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The ceremony, which began shortly after 2pm saw the President perform the decoration alongside Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the decorated officers, each dressed in their respective service uniforms.
Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as the Chief of Defence Staff; Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff; Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff; and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas and Chief of Naval Staff.
The Senate had, on Wednesday, confirmed the four nominees after a two-hour closed-door screening session where they were grilled on strategies to strengthen national security and improve coordination among the armed forces.
Tinubu had earlier written the red chamber, seeking an expedited confirmation process “to ensure continuity in the nation’s security leadership.”
READ ALSO:Reps Approve Tinubu’s $2.35bn External Loan Request
It was observed that the ceremony was attended by senior government officials, lawmakers family members of the service chiefs and top officers from the various arms of the military.
The President, Vice President and the officers’ spouses took turns pinning the new ranks on each of the decorated chiefs.
The decoration came barely one week after the Presidency announced a sweeping reshuffle in the military hierarchy.
In the statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, it said the shake-up was part of efforts to inject new direction into the nation’s defence architecture.
READ ALSO:Tinubu Under Fire Over Presidential Pardon For Drug Offenders
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E. A. P. Undiendeye, retained his position.
Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, later told our correspondent that the changes were not connected to recent rumours of a coup plot, saying, “The President acted within his authority as Commander-in-Chief. Service chiefs can be hired and fired by the President.”
On Monday, Tinubu had met privately with the new service chiefs at the Villa.
They arrived in a black Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van escorted by a green Toyota Land Cruiser, and the session lasted about 40 minutes.
READ ALSO:FULL LIST: 175 Beneficiaries Of Tinubu’s Pardons
Presidency sources said the President charged them to take decisive action against insurgents and bandits, particularly in the North.
Last Friday’s reshuffle followed an October 19 report alleging that some officers were plotting to overthrow the government — a claim later dismissed by the Defence Headquarters as “false and mischievous.”
The Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau, said the alleged arrests linked to a coup were “issues of indiscipline” within the ranks, describing the report as “intended to cause unnecessary tension and distrust among the populace.”
News
JUST IN: Eurozone Growth Beats Expectations In Third Quarter

The eurozone economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter of 2025, official data showed Thursday.
The EU’s data agency said the 20-country single currency area recorded growth of 0.2 per cent over the July-September period from the previous quarter.
READ ALSO:Atiku Slams Tinubu Over U-turn On Pardon For Convicts
The figure was higher than the 0.1 per cent forecast by analysts for Bloomberg and FactSet.
More details later…
News
PHOTOS: Police Inspector, Others Die In Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Multiple-truck Crash

At least four persons were feared dead while several others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash involving five articulated trucks on Kara Bridge, inward Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.
A police inspector attached to the Lagos State Police Command was said to be among the victims.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, who confirmed the incident on Thursday during a visit to the scene, said emergency response teams worked through the early hours to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.
“We have a case of multiple accidents at the border between Ogun and Lagos State. Five vehicles were involved, all articulated vehicles. Precisely, three people have been rescued from the scene of the accident.
READ ALSO:Ten Feared, Others Injured In Oyo Road Accident
“As early as 5 a.m., we have been on it, and we have other agencies here assisting us. We have LASTMA, the Road Safety Corps, and other security agencies,” Ishola said.
He explained that preliminary investigations showed the crash was caused by a trailer that suffered brake failure.
“At the beginning, we have a trailer that failed to brake, and it is important that everybody in charge of their vehicle ensures proper maintenance,” he stated.
The commissioner also confirmed the death of one of his officers who was part of the police advance team deployed to the scene.

READ ALSO:41 Killed In Mexico Bus Accident
“It’s very unfortunate that we lost one of our police inspectors who came with our advance team to salvage the situation,” he said.
Ishola cautioned motorists, particularly drivers of articulated vehicles, against reckless driving, which he described as a leading cause of fatal crashes on highways.

“We want road users, especially those driving articulated vehicles, to stop this kind of recklessness. If they are not reckless in their driving habit, we won’t have this kind of accident,” he warned.

Rescue operations involving the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, and other agencies were still ongoing as of press time, while efforts to remove the damaged vehicles and restore traffic flow continued.
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