PTS Chairman Reveals 5.8 Million Passengers Benefited from Transport Subsidy Since January 2025.

By Adewale Owoade

The  Chairman/Sole Administrator of Pacesetter Transport Services (PTS), Dr. Ibraheem Salami (Dikko), has revealed that the Oyo State Government has subsidized transport fares for 5,880,000 passengers under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative between January and July 2025.

Dr Salami who stated this while briefing newsmen at the Governor’s Office Briefing Room, Secretariat Ibadan.

‎The SAfER Transport initiative, introduced by Governor Seyi Makinde, aims to mitigate economic hardship facing residents, students, pensioners, the aged, and people living with disabilities. Under this initiative, residents enjoy subsidized transportation on state-owned Pacesetter Buses on various intra-city and inter-city routes.

Salami said the  PTS commuted 9,950,000 passengers in 2024 and 5,880,000 passengers from January to July 2025, and that  the state government invested N541 million in 2023, N924 million in 2024, and N686 million in 2025 to subsidize transport fares.

‎He said: “Since August 5th, 2023, when Governor ‘Seyi Makinde announced SAfER, till date, the state government has spent N2,151,000,000 to subsidise transportation for the people.

‎”Between August 5th and December 2023, the governor invested N541 million in subsidising transport fare by 50 per cent for residents of the state. We commuted between 26,000 and 30,000 people on a daily basis in 2023.

‎”In 2024, the governor invested N924 million and we commuted over 9,950,000 people in 2024.

“This year, as we speak, the governor has invested N686 million and so far, from January to date, we have commuted about 5,880,000 passengers.

“The public needs to know what the governor has been doing to put all those buses back on the road and to ensure that life is easier for residents of the state.”

Speaking further, he said that the PTS  currently operates 39 intra-city routes with 55 buses and five inter-city routes with 10 buses.

The introduction of a digital payment system increased revenue from N200,000 to over N1.5 million in a day, and that PTS has recorded a steady rise in subscribers, with 262,000 subscribers to date.

The  introduction of logistics services,is  allowing customers to send goods to Ibadan, Lagos, or Abuja.

‎Salami  attributed controversies surrounding PTS to “corruption fighting back” after the company’s reforms blocked loopholes for stealing.

‎He cited investigations that cleared PTS of wrongdoing, stating, “All money made in PTS is electronically made, and you cannot remove anything.”

While speaking about the future Plans of the company, Salami said that PTS has received 30 CNG buses from the Federal Government and plans to launch operations on Lagos to Abuja and Ibadan to Kwara routes soon.

And also the the state is set to launch a CNG conversion centre and Taxi Transport Services for easy movement of travelers.

The PTS chairman hailed Governor Makinde for transforming and reforming the transport company, which had become moribund prior to his assumption of office in 2019, noting that the PTS has experienced growth since he was appointed as the Chairman/Sole Administrator of the Company in July 2023.

According to him, apart from recording an increase in the number of functioning vehicles and routes, paying pensions/gratuities and also restructuring of the workforce for better service delivery to the masses.