Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has introduced a free transportation program called GbajaRide in Surulere, Lagos.
The project will serve primary and secondary school students as well as elderly residents aged 65 and above.
The launch event featured the unveiling of 33 mini and medium-sized buses dedicated to the scheme.
Gbajabiamila explained that his desire to serve the people of Surulere remains strong and that this program is his personal effort to ease the struggles faced by local residents.
Gbajabiamila provided 13 buses with 32 seats and 20 smaller buses with 18 seats each.
He explained that the goal of government is to create conditions where individuals can work hard, chase their dreams, and succeed.
This free bus programme, he said, fits into the larger Renewed Hope plan of the Tinubu administration, which focuses on improving citizens’ daily lives.
He also mentioned that aside from school children and the elderly, other Surulere residents can benefit from the buses with a 25% discount on regular shuttle fares, thanks to a partnership with the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Agency (LAMATA).
Gbajabiamila pointed out that the project is meant to help lessen the financial burden on families and improve access to schools, markets, and other parts of the community.
The former Speaker, who represented Surulere 1 federal constituency, shared that he has already covered three months’ worth of salaries for 100 workers running the program, as well as the costs of insurance, fuel, and other expenses.
He called on other political leaders and well-off citizens to follow his example by supporting projects that help the less privileged.
At the event, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the project’s advisor, described GbajaRide as a poverty-reduction effort, estimating that subscribers could save up to N20,000 monthly and N240,000 per year.
Dr. Olukemi Amure, representing LAMATA, expressed the agency’s commitment to keeping the project running smoothly.
APC Lagos Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, represented by Deputy State Chairman Moshood Mayeigun, praised Gbajabiamila’s dedication, noting that his reputation strengthens both Surulere and the party’s image.
The event ended with Gbajabiamila formally commissioning the buses, surrounded by political figures, community leaders, and royal representatives from across the region.
Leave a Reply