Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has approved free transportation for 630 families who intend to travel to their various states for the Christmas celebration as a way of cushioning the effect of the current hardship faced by citizens following the removal of fuel subsidy.

The move, according to the Borno State Government, was to support the less privileged who could not have afforded fares and foster peaceful coexistence among non-indigene groups.

The Coordinator of Ohanaeze All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Group, Emmanuel Egwudike, while speaking at the flag off on Thursday, December 21, 2023, said Governor Zulum also provided money to widows for Christmas celebration.

Egwudike commended the gvernor for providing free transport for the less privileged, who, he said, wouldn’t have travelled without the support.

He noted that it was not the first time that Governor Zulum had been magnanimous as he regularly supported non-indigenes and gave palliatives to widows to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Egwudike: “He (Zulum) has been doing this since 2020. Every Christmas, he makes sure that every non-indigene, especially the most vulnerable, can travel.

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“Due to hardship and economic situations, as well as subsidy removal and an increase in transportation, a lot of families wouldn’t be able to get themselves to celebrate Christmas in their state without this gesture from Zulum’s administration.

“You can see the number of people that are here at the park and the joy in the faces of the people, which is the mood of happiness.

“From the record we have, over 630 families will be going to their various homes to celebrate this Christmas and this is something that is quite appreciated by all non-indigenes in the state.”

He, therefore, urged other governors to emulate Zulum to further boost the unity in their respective states.

Also speaking, the President of the Tiv Community in Borno State, Abraham Kaanti, said Governor Zulum exhibited his love for the downtrodden and the less privileged by the gesture.

He added that the governor’s gesture came when many had lost hope of travelling home for the festivities.

Also speaking for the Yoruba Constituency in Borno State, who are among the beneficiaries, Saka Ganiyu Abiodun, expressed gratitude to Zulum for the gesture, saying the governor is known for his attitude of not wanting to see people suffer.

He said the selection of the beneficiaries was done on the vulnerability of each of them, especially those who wished to go home but could not afford the cost of taking themselves home.

In a similar vein, the Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Borno State, Napoleon Egbonu, who said he was sent by the Igbo Community to supervise what is happening and appreciate the governor, said the gesture was directly touching the downtrodden.

“It is a tro and fro programme. It has been going on for the past five years and the people are really happy with the governor,” Egbonu said.

The Star