…alerts on heavy rainfall, flooding in Ibadan
The Oyo State Government says it has spent N2.151 billion to subsidise transportation for the people as well as subsidised transport fare for 5.880 million passengers under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) between January and July 2025 till date
Ibrahim Oladeji Dikko, Chairman and Sole Administrator of the Pacesetter Transport Services, said the Pacesetter Transport Services was able to commute 9,950,000 passengers in 2024.
He added that under the SAfER Transport, an initiative introduced by Governor Seyi Makinde to mitigate the economic hardship facing residents of the State, students, pensioners, the aged, people living with disabilities and other residents enjoy subsidised transportation in the State-owned Pacesetter Buses on different intra-city and inter-city routes.
Dikko, who spoke while briefing newsmen at the Governor’s Office Briefing Room, noted that the state government has committed a total of N2.1 billion towards subsidising transport cost across Ibadan and other inter-city routes such as Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki route, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso route and Ibadan-Ibarapa route.
“Since August 5th, 2023, when Governor ‘Seyi Makinde announced SAfER, till date, the state government has spent N2,151,000,000 to subsidise transportation for the people. Between August 5th and December 2023, the governor invested N541 million in subsidising transport fare by 50 per cent for residents of the state. We commuted between 26,000 and 30,000 people on a daily basis in 2023.
“In 2024, the governor invested N924 million and we commuted over 9,950,000 people in 2024.
“This year, as we speak, the governor has invested N686 million and so far, from January to date, we have commuted about 5,880,000 passengers. The public needs to know what the governor has been doing to put all those buses back on the road and to ensure that life is easier for residents of the State.”
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), has alerted people living in flood-prone communities in the State to start preparing for heavy rain and its attendant flooding.
SEMA said that the areas to the East and North-East of Ibadan City Centre are likely to experience heaviest rainfall
Ojuolape Busari, the Administrative Secretary, SEMA in a statement in Ibadan, on Tuesday, said reports from the Oyo State Flood Early Warning System indicated that parts of Lagelu Local Government Area (LGA), especially areas like Iyana Offa, Moniya (Eastern parts), and communities further East towards Osun State, would be affected.
Busari said according to the information made available by the Oyo state Flood Early Warning System, some parts of the North of Ibadan City, possibly parts of Egbeda LGA (Eastern edges) and areas bordering Lagelu LGA, would experience heavy rainfall on Wednesday.
