In a significant development towards minimizing congested areas and improving Jos City Center to allow the recently acquired Tin City Metro Buses to commence operations, the Plateau State Government expressed its desire to evacuate the major bus routes around the Jos Main Market area, which are presently occupied by traders.
On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at the Main Market area in Jos, the Secretary to the Government of Plateau State, Arc. Samuel Nanchang Jatau, revealed this Clusterchannel.
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.”
Arc. Jatau promised to clear Jos City Center in partnership with Plateau people, focusing on Amadu Bello Way, Main Market Round About to Tafawa Balewa, and Bauchi Road to Yantaya, advising traders to find alternative locations.
Corroborating According to the SGS, the General Manager of Plateau Express Services Limited, Mr Samuel Jot Gwott, stated that the Digitised Tin City Metro Buses were ready for service, stressing that the only challenge was that some areas had become congested, and emphasised the need for traders to work with the government to clear the routes so that the buses could move freely.
He declared that the Digitised Service, which allows for each tab for any destination, distant or near, will be costing at N200 Naira only, with an access card that can be acquired for a minimum of N1,000 each card.
Gwott underlined that the cards’ accessibility will be as practical as possible, with the card being used to provide safety and control, as well as to ensure revenue.
The GM noted that the buses will ply 8 routes within Jos namely;
1. Angul-D to Vom route,
2. Polo Round-About to Zawang Round-About,
3. Jos Main Market Area to Zawang Round-About,
4. British America to JUTH
5. Jos Main Market Area through Rayfield, Yelwa Junction.
6. Jos Main Market Area through Tudun Wada, Low-cost Round-About to Wild Life Park.
7. Jos Main Market Area through Bauchi Road to Farin Gada
8. British America through Angwan Rukuba to Farin Gada and back.
He guaranteed that the restricted number of buses will suffice for the time being, awaiting additions by Governor Mutfwang.
Gwott noted that there will be bus stops and shelters to make life easier for Plateau State residents.
The buses can accommodate 43 people seated, 44 people standing, and one wheelchair. The buses are designed to be accessible to people with disabilities.
He thanked Governor Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang for sending the buses to help alleviate the suffering of the people. He thanked Governor Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang for sending the buses to help alleviate the suffering of the people.
