By Khalid Idris Doya
The Bauchi state government has procured 30 new vehicles for Yankari Express Corporation as part of ongoing efforts to improve transportation services and enhance mobility across the state.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the first batch of the vehicles on Monday, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Prof. Titus Saul Ketkukah, commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his commitment to improving the welfare of residents through strategic investments in public transportation.
According to the commissioner, the state government approved the purchase of 30 vehicles comprising 25 buses and 5 saloon cars to strengthen the operations of Yankari Express and meet the growing transportation needs of the people.
He disclosed that the first consignment delivered to the state consists of 12 vehicles, including 10 Toyota Hiace 18-seater buses and 2 Peugeot 406 saloon cars, while the remaining 18 vehicles are expected to arrive later.
"We had requested a total of 30 vehicles comprising 25 buses and 5 saloon cars. What we are receiving today is the first consignment. This initial batch consists of 10 buses and 2 saloon cars already delivered to the state," he said.
Prof. Ketkukah explained that the ministry had drawn the governor's attention to the increasing transportation challenges across communities and institutions in the state, stressing the need for additional vehicles to improve service delivery.
"We highlighted the need for more vehicles for Yankari Express to cater for our growing population."
He added that the government also considered the transportation needs of students attending tertiary institutions across the state and organisations that rely on dependable transport services.
"Today, we are delighted that these concerns have been heard and addressed. This development demonstrates the responsiveness of Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration and its unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of the people," he said.
The commissioner recalled that at a time when commercial transport fares between Bauchi and Abuja surged to over N20,000, Yankari Express maintained its fare at about N9,000. He noted that the corporation adopted a similar approach on other routes, underscoring its commitment to providing affordable transportation services to residents.
He expressed confidence that the arrival of the remaining vehicles would further strengthen the corporation's capacity to serve commuters within and outside the state.
Prof. Ketkukah also urged the management and staff of Yankari Express to ensure proper utilisation and maintenance of the new vehicles to guarantee long-term service delivery.
"The performance of the management team has been commendable, and the people are satisfied with their efforts. As the government continues to provide support for the growth of this corporation, we expect even greater achievements in the future," he added.
In his remarks, the General Manager of Yankari Express Corporation, Engr. Babaji Isah Yunusa, expressed appreciation to Governor Bala Mohammed for approving the purchase of the vehicles.
He said the acquisition was in response to the increasing demand for transportation services and the corporation's request for additional vehicles to expand its operations.
Yunusa assured the government that the vehicles would be properly managed and deployed to improve transportation services across the state.
He further pledged the corporation's continued commitment to ensuring safe, affordable, and reliable transportation for residents.
The General Manager further disclosed that some of the buses would be dedicated to transporting students of tertiary institutions across the state, including Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Sa'adu Zungur University, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), among others.
He noted that the move would help ease transportation challenges faced by students while improving access to education and other essential services.
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