Governor Monday Okpebholo has taken a bold step and a visionary move to revitalize Edo State Transport Company Limited operator of the Edo Line.
Governor Okpebholo announced plans to resuscitate Edo Line when he paid a working visit to the premises of the Company on James Watt Road in Benin City.
According to the Governor his administration would take the necessary steps to revamp the transport company and restore it to its past glories. Governor
Okpebholo’s decision is not only aimed at reviving the once thriving Edo Line, but also aimed at providing Edo people, residents and visitors with reliable, efficient and affordable transportation services.
Edo Line which metamorphosed from the Midwest Line and Bendel Line used to be the flagship of the state and it contributed significantly to the economy of the
state. However, it was mismanaged and eventually abandoned by successive administrations.
Without doubt transportation is very vital in improvement of the state economy as it plays important role in the movement of persons, goods and services within the state and across the nation. Therefore resuscitating the Edo Line means reviving the economy and enhancing the movement of business concerns.
Consequently, the news of the revival of Edo Line by Governor Okpebholo created excitement in the people, as they say it would create opportunity to address the current transportation challenges faced by the citizens.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to provide new fleets of modem buses for Edo Line and establish a formidable management structure that will manage the
transport company for economic growth and job creation.
The company could also venture into other ancillary services like vehicle maintenance and customer services, which will create more job opportunities.
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, the modernization of Edo Transport Company requires a paradigm shift in its management techniques, and there should be a shift towards eco-friendly transportation strategies, where greener technologies like electric, hybrid and gas driven vehicles are used in order to save cost and contribute to a safer environment for all. If there is such commitment to global best practices and efforts to combat climate change, it would showcase Edo State to the world as a forward thinking state ready to embrace the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This could attract collaboration from international community and donor agencies.
Furthermore, the routes to be covered by the transport company should be carefully thought out, so that residents in both urban and rural communities in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state could enjoy its services.
In addition, the company should prioritized passenger safety, comfort and reliability in order to win the trust and confidence of commuters. By so doing the
company could stay afloat in the very competitive transportation industry.
Therefore, the drivers must be well trained and sensitized. There must be regular checks and maintenance of the vehicles to ensure that it plys the various routes regularly and without hitches on the highways.
It is very heart warming to state that the decision of Governor Monday Okpebholo to resuscitate the Edo Line is one of the best thing to happen to the good people of Edo State in recent times. No doubt it represents beacon of hope and progress to come in the years ahead for the people.
It would be recalled that Bendel State now Edo and Delta State used to be number one in different sectors of our national lives, including transportation. Therefore, Governor Okpebholo deserves commendation for his thoughtfulness in re-enacting the glorious day’s by revitalizing Edo Line Transport Company.
