Edo State Governor suspends free bus services days after announcement

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has suspended the free bus services he recently approved across the state’s three senatorial districts, just days after the announcement.

The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, had initially issued a statement to the media in Benin City, confirming that the governor approved the free bus initiative as part of his administration’s efforts to ease transportation for residents.

However, on Wednesday, Itua released a follow-up statement urging the public to disregard the earlier announcement.

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The suspension, according to the statement, comes after a briefing the governor received regarding operational challenges with the state-owned Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), the agency responsible for running the free bus services.

Itua further emphasized that the governor is currently assessing the issues surrounding the ECTS operations and that the free bus services are now on hold.

A new decision, he said, will be communicated to the public in due course.