Former Lagos State Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, yesterday in Kaduna flagged-off the first phase of 200 taxi scheme of the Kaduna State Government, saying that the initiative was long overdue.
Speaking shortly before Commissioning the programme, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) said that Governor Nasir El-Rufai was no longer an accidental civil servant, but a thorough breed Governor that is ready to develop Kaduna State.
His words, “I salute Governor El-Rufai for this bold initiative and I challenge him to quickly increase the number of the cabs. Kaduna is blessed with a performer, a trailblazer and a committed governor.
“This time, he is no longer the accidental civil servant, but rather a prepared governor whose experience, knowledge and deep understanding of good governance can be brought to bear in governing the Kaduna people.
“The Kaduna Cab Scheme is a long overdue initiative. And now that a people oriented government is in charge, we are beginning to see not just bold ideas, but equally bold moves.
“I have been made to understand that the Kaduna Green Cabs Programme is an initiative to revive taxi services in the state, using modern cars and well-trained owner-drivers. It will also create a new generation of owner-drivers.
“It is an economic empowerment program aimed at not just creating wealth, but providing jobs and affordable loans to the people of Kaduna State. The advantages of this initiative range from the economic, to the sociological and security. It will help to begin to sanitize the taxi business system since a database is expected to be established and a monitoring technique”, he said.
Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai stated that, “our taxi cab scheme is a business. It is not an exercise in political patronage. It is one of the platforms being created to empower the industrious and the hard working among our youth.
“Aside from the 10% deposit each of the pioneer owner-drivers of the Kaduna Cabs has made, they will pay for the full value of the cars in monthly installment. The repayment will be concluded in 36 months.
“We believe that most of our young people have the ability, the dignity and the trustworthiness to make a success of their participation in the scheme. I urge all participants in the scheme to live up to the expectations of them, to be dutiful in their repayments, to abide by the law always, to responsibly use these vehicles and to properly serve their customers.
“The Kaduna State Government has invested in helping to create a solid foundation for the scheme. We have ensured that all the vehicles have insurance cover and a compulsory maintenance programme at specified intervals. In addition, we have ensured that all drivers have valid driving credentials and we have taken them through a course in safe driving practices and customer service”, the Governor said.
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