The Cross River State Government has commenced its annual 31-day free Christmas transportation programme, offering cost-free movement to residents, visitors, and tourists across the state.
The initiative, a major component of Governor Bassey Otu’s “Season of Sweetness” Agenda, targets the reduction of the financial burden on households and ensuring seamless mobility throughout the festive season.
Flagged off in Calabar by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, who represented the Governor, the programme covers both land and water transport routes, with over sixty minibuses and several long-distance buses deployed across major corridors, alongside free boats for riverine communities.
Peter Odey, said the annual intervention reflects the administration’s firm commitment to citizens’ welfare.
Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba, explained that all vehicles and boats have been inspected and certified roadworthy, and monitoring teams are attached to each bus to ensure smooth operations and timely response to emergencies.
Beneficiaries who joined the first shuttle described the gesture as timely and impactful, amid rising cost of living.
With the full deployment of buses and boats across urban, rural, and riverine communities, the Cross River State Government says the 31-day free transportation programme stands as a clear demonstration of its commitment to easing festive pressures and improving public welfare.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
