Following the ban on commercial motorcycles in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, the state government claims to have spent N1.3 billion, in conjunction with others, to purchase taxi cabs and buses to cushion the effect of the ban.

The state government hopes to spend more on public transportation, considering the increase in the number of tourists to the state and growing complaints over inability to easily catch a cab to any part of the capital city.

Gabriel Okulaja, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Transportation, who said this in an interview, added that the money was spent by the state government, commercial and micro-finance banks, and private participants, to flood the state with taxis and buses.

Mr. Okulaja explained that the decision to invest this sum was based on the activities of the disbanded motorcyclists, as they had become a nuisance on Calabar roads, embarrassing other road users and being reckless and disorganised. He stressed that, as an emerging tourist destination in the country, it became necessary for the state to have a perfect transport system that guarantees the safety of passengers.

“We spent this amount on new vehicles in partnership with other investors,” Mr. Okulaja said. “We are not done yet. Our desire is to have more vehicles on our roads. Before the end of the year, we should have increased the fleet to 2000 taxi cabs and 500 buses. We want all the routes to have vehicles that can easily be boarded from commuters’ door steps.

“Government has, through this new scheme, sanitised the transport system. Through it, accidents have reduced. Gone are the days of handbag snatching by bike riders. Traffic rules enforcement by my department has ensured that drivers are no more reckless or driving in rickety vehicles,” he said.

At the initial stage, according to him, as a result of the cordial relationship between the state government and a micro finance bank, the first set of 50 cabs were released to the former cyclists. Mr. Okulaja said that the new transportation scheme was being handled by the association of urban taxi drivers.

No to environmental hazards

“Four licensed taxi operators indicated interest in managing the transport scheme, and have invested enough into it. The state government has given a four-year guarantee to them and has promised to protect them and create a conducive business environment for them,” he added.

He added that plans were on the way to establish a passenger/driver insurance scheme which will protect both the passengers and drivers in case of any accident.

He said that some of the old taxis and buses plying the roads in the state will soon be phased out, as the government does not want rickety vehicles that constitute environmental hazards on the streets.

For any taxi to operate in the state, it must register with N75, 000, while buses register with N85, 000, though part of the money goes to the operational companies and some to provide the necessary documents and training for the drivers.