Zamfara Launches Transport Support Scheme, Unveils Five New Fire Trucks

The Zamfara State Government has introduced a major intervention to improve public transportation and strengthen emergency response services with the distribution of 50 subsidised commercial buses to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the commissioning of five newly acquired fire trucks.

Governor Dauda Lawal officially handed over the vehicles during a ceremony held on Wednesday at the Government House in Gusau, attended by officials of the transport union, the state fire service and senior government functionaries.

The 50 buses were provided under the Zamfara State Loan Scheme, a financing initiative designed to expand economic opportunities for transport operators while ensuring the programme remains sustainable through structured repayment.

Under the arrangement, each bus was purchased for ₦27.39 million, with the state government subsidising 20 per cent of the cost, representing ₦5.478 million per vehicle. Beneficiaries will therefore repay ₦21.912 million over a 44-month period, beginning from the date the buses are allocated.

To safeguard the success of the initiative, the National Union of Road Transport Workers will work with the state government by identifying qualified beneficiaries, monitoring the use of the vehicles and ensuring adherence to the agreed repayment schedule, a model aimed at reducing defaults and guaranteeing the continuity of the programme.

Alongside the transport initiative, Governor Lawal commissioned five modern fire trucks to boost the operational capacity of the Zamfara State Fire Service.

He said the acquisition became necessary because of the recurring destruction caused by fire outbreaks across the state and expressed confidence that the new equipment would significantly improve emergency response.

“We are aware that fire outbreaks can destroy homes, shops and livelihoods in seconds,” he said. “These new fire trucks, equipped with modern standards, will strengthen the state fire service’s capacity to respond faster across all nooks and crannies of the State.”

The governor directed the leadership of the fire service to complement the new equipment with continuous personnel training, regular public awareness campaigns on fire prevention and proper maintenance to keep the trucks fully operational.

He also stressed that the buses and fire trucks remain public assets belonging to the people of Zamfara and must be managed responsibly.

To promote accountability, Lawal instructed all benefiting Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as individual beneficiaries, to submit quarterly reports detailing the utilisation and maintenance of the equipment to the relevant supervisory authorities.

He warned that the government would take a firm stance against the misuse of public property, declaring that “vandalism, misuse or diversion will not be tolerated,” as part of efforts to ensure transparency and prudent asset management.

The governor said the combined investment reflects his administration’s commitment to modernising the transport sector, expanding economic opportunities for commercial drivers and improving the safety of communities across the state.

Officials expect the subsidised buses to help lower transportation challenges while creating sustainable livelihoods for transport operators. The newly commissioned fire trucks are also expected to improve the state’s capacity to respond to emergencies in both urban and rural communities, reducing the loss of lives and property caused by fire incidents.

Following the handover, the NURTW is expected to begin allocating the buses to eligible members, while the Zamfara State Fire Service will deploy the fire trucks to strategic locations across the state.

The government said implementation of the programme would be closely monitored through its quarterly reporting framework, with sanctions awaiting any beneficiary found to have violated the conditions of the scheme.

The intervention represents one of the most extensive investments by the Lawal administration in both transportation and emergency services, with expectations that it will deliver lasting economic and public safety benefits for residents of Zamfara State.