Plateau State Government Initiates Plan to relocate Traders Occupying Major routes to make way for the commencement of N200 per trip Tin City Bus Services with provision for persons with disabilities

The Plateau State Government has revealed it’s desire to decongest the major bus routes around the terminus area, which are currently being occupied by traders in order to make way for the commencement of operations of the newly acquired Tin City Metro Buses. This was disclosed by the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State Arch Samuel Nanchang Jatau who briefed journalists at the Terminus Market in Jos on Wednesday 6th March 2024.

He said that the purpose of the on-the-spot-assessment was to interact with the traders and intimate them on the plans of Government to clear the roads in preparation of the commencement of the operation of the Tin City Metro Buses.

“As you can see we’re here His Excellency the Executive Governor of Plateau State Barrister Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang, the talk and do Governor has constituted a committee headed by my humble self to midwife the actualization of the start up of the Tin City Metro, that’s the Tin City Metro Bus Service. The buses that were newly acquired from Germany to help reduce the hardship.”

“We are aware, that government is very conscious of the fact that there is a lot of hardship and one of the critical sectors where people are suffering is the transportation sector…But we have a few issues which we need to sort out, one of which is why we’re here today because you can see how congested the terminus area is. So we need to clear it out because these buses are huge and our roads in some cases are a bit narrow.”

“So we need to able to get for them turning circumference, parking spaces and so on and so forth. That’s why we’re here to see how we can partner with the traders to relocate them down here where we’re standing from where we we moved so that they can also be comfortable doing their business as a temporary measure.

“And so this is going to be a temporary measure because government intends in the coming months and years ahead to begin to build markets in neighbourhoods around town. And so markets will open up around town and so there will not be over concentration of traders in one spot, which is also a security risk itself.”

“And so those are the issues that we’re looking at and that is why we’re here today to partner with them. You can see that they are contributing in the discussion and they’re also proffering solutions because this government is a listening government, this government is the people’s government and that is why we’re doing it together with everybody and that’s why we’re here today.”

Arch Jatau assured Plateau people that the Jos City Center will be cleared in partnership with the people and anybody that will resist that move will taste what government can do. He stressed that Amadu Bello Way will be cleared, the road from Terminus Round About to Tafawa Balewa will be cleared, Bauchi Road to Yantaya will be cleared. He advised traders who are doing business along these routes to see alternative places of business because government intends to bring sanity to the town.

Corroborating The position of the SGS, the General Manager, Plateau Express Services Limited Mr Samuel Jot Gwott said that the Digitized Tin City Metro Buses were ready for service, stressing that the only challenge was that there were areas that have been congested and emphasized the need for traders to partner with government in clearing the routes in order to allow the buses move freely.

He announced that the Digitized Service allowed for each tab for every destination whether far or near will be charged at N200 Naira only, using an access card that can be purchased at a minimum rate of N1,000 per card. Gwott stressed that the accessibility of the cards will be down to earth as possible using the card to ensure safety and for control purposes, to also guarantee that revenue comes in.

The GM noted that the 14 buses will ply 8 routes within Jos namely;

1. Angul-D to Vom route,
2. Polo Round-About to Zawang Round-About,
3. Terminus to Zawang Round-About,
4. British America to JUTH
5. Terminus through Rayfield, Yelwa Junction.
6. Terminus through Tudun Wada, Low-cost Round-About to Wild Life Park.
7. Terminus through Bauchi Road to Farin Gada
8. British America through Angwan Rukuba to Farin Gada and back.

He assured that the limited numbers of buses will serve for the time being pending additions by Governor Mutfwang. Gwott added that there will be bus stops and bus shelters in order to make life easy for the people fo Plateau State.

The Buses have a capacity of 43 seated, 44 standing and a space for a wheelchair. The buses are made in such a way that they can accommodate persons living with disabilities. He expressed gratitude to Governor Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang for providing the buses for help ameliorate the sufferings of the masses.