By Charles Bermercides
Just last week, the River State Governor, Nyesom Wike through his commissioner for Transport, Sunny Ejekwu rolled out some buses to convey residents of the state across routes between Port Harcourt, Eleme, Oyigbo, Obio/Akpor for a start, free.
The buses the commissioner said will convey passengers free, which is one of its kind after a similar scheme was launched in 2007 by former governor of the state, Dr. Peter Odili.
Outside that, being free, some passengers are also afraid of boarding the vehicles because of the scare of being taken to the isolation centres, should they be tested positive for the virus covid19.
Also, some commercial buses plying the affected routes now see the free buses as a threat to their businesses therefore triggering attack on some of the free buses.
The Town Crier correspondent who was on ground to monitor development of the free scheme reports that, why some people claimed they were not aware of the free buses, others said they heard the announcement over the radio, tv and read on papers.
They explained that what the Rivers state governor has done will definitely go a long way to ease the suffering of the people now, which they said the effect of the corona virus has ruined a lot of businesses.
One frank Otobodia has said “well my son, what the state governor has done is okay. I think it will help some poor people like us. The need to publicize it so that people can be aware. No problem at all. He said.
Also, a lady that craved anonymity said ” Bro. let me tell you, am afraid. I don’t want to be taken to a quarantine centre. I am told, once they suspect fever or malaria-fiam you will be in ” she said.