Shettima inaugurates free bus service for students

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno, on Monday inaugurated free bus service for students in Maiduguri.

Shettima performed the inauguration ceremony at the Government House, Maiduguri.

Shettima said the buses would convey students from both public and private schools from their homes to school, and back home, free of charge.

He said the gesture was to encourage parents to send their children to school.

Shettima said the buses were his personal contribution toward uplifting education standard in the state.

He said the buses were purchased during his official visit to the United States last year.

"The buses were purchased last year during my visit to the U.S. to attend the meeting of the U.S.-Nigeria Bilateral Commission.

"My host, Malam Hassan Yahaya, told me that many countries were buying the buses for transportation of their students back home," Shettima said.

"So I felt I should buy some of the buses as my personal contribution to help the less privileged students back home.

"I am donating them to the Ministry of Education for conveying all students in both public and private schools in Maiduguri to relieve parents of the burden of having to pay for transportation for sending their children to school,'' he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles include 20 luxury buses and 10 mini buses.