In a significant move to cushion the impact of rising transport costs, the Kaduna State Government has announced the commencement of free bus services for civil servants, retirees, and students under its Kaduna Subsidised Transport Scheme (KSTS).
The Director General of the Kaduna State Transport Regulatory Authority (KADSTRA), Inuwa Ibrahim, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that the initiative will run free for the first six months, after which a 60 percent fare subsidy will apply.
Beneficiaries include students in public and private schools from primary to tertiary levels, state civil servants, retirees, and security personnel from recognised agencies, provided they present proper identification.
To prevent abuse of the scheme, Inuwa noted that civil servants must present valid staff ID cards linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), while students are required to wear full school uniforms to board the buses.
Some buses are expected to begin operations on Monday, a move Inuwa described as part of Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to improving the welfare of citizens, particularly workers, senior citizens, and students.
READ ALSO: Six dead, three missing in Navy boat mishap
The bus services will initially operate along three major routes: Rigachikun–Kawo–Kasuwa–Sabo (and return), Rigachikun–Kawo–Independence Way–Yakowa Road (and return), Tudun Wada–Poly Road–Sokoto Road–Kawo (and return).
Inuwa cautioned commuters to maintain order at bus stops, warning against rushing or jumping queues, and stressed that law enforcement will be deployed to ensure smooth and safe operations.
The scheme follows President Bola Tinubu’s commissioning of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses in Kaduna on June 19, laying the groundwork for the state’s transport transformation initiative.