The Oyo State Government has subsidised transportation for over 5.8 million passengers between January and July 2025 through its Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative, investing a total of ₦2.1 billion to ease mobility for residents across the state.
This was revealed on Monday by the Chairman and Sole Administrator of Pacesetter Transport Services (PTS), Ibrahim Dikko, during a media briefing at the Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan. The briefing was supported by a statement from Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to Dikko, the initiative targeted vulnerable groups including students, pensioners, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, ensuring they could commute affordably across both intra-city and inter-city routes.
“From August 2023 till date, the government has spent ₦2,151,000,000 to subsidise transportation. In 2023 alone, ₦541 million was invested, and we transported up to 30,000 passengers daily. In 2024, ₦924 million was invested, moving over 9.9 million people. This year, ₦686 million has already been spent, benefitting 5,880,000 passengers so far,” Dikko said.
The SAfER scheme currently operates on 39 intra-city routes with 55 buses, and 5 inter-city routes with 10 buses, covering major corridors like Ibadan-Iseyin-Saki, Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso, and Ibadan-Ibarapa.
Under Dikko’s leadership, PTS has undergone significant reforms. The company revived 46 grounded buses, installed CCTV cameras, speed monitors, and trackers, and introduced a digital card payment system that increased daily revenue from ₦200,000 to over ₦1.5 million.
As of now, over 262,000 commuters have subscribed to the card system since its launch on September 24, 2023.
Dikko also noted improvements in pension and gratuity payments, workforce restructuring, and operational transparency. He claimed the reforms have curbed issues like diesel theft, route diversion, and revenue leakage.
“This administration is not only putting buses back on the roads but also ensuring transportation becomes safer, smarter, and more accessible for all residents,” Dikko added.
