By AbdulRaheem Aodu
Kaduna
Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday described Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state as a determined and well groomed Governor.
Speaking yesterday in Kaduna while launching the first phase of 200 brand new Peugeot and KIA vehicles for the new Kaduna Taxi Cabs Scheme (KADCABS) initiated by the governor, Asiwaju said el-Rufa’i was no longer ‘accidental public servant.’
He said: “The Kaduna Cab Scheme is a long overdue initiative. And now that a people oriented government in charge, we are beginning to see not just bold ideas, but equally bold moves. I have been made to understand that the Kaduna Green Cabs Programme is an initiative to revive taxi services in the state, using modern cars and well-trained owner-drivers. It will also create a new generation of owner-drivers.”
El-Rufa’i, in his address, said the scheme was not an exercise in political patronage, but a business and a platform being created to empower the industrious and the hard working among Kaduna youth.
He said aside from the 10% deposit each of the pioneer owner-drivers of the Kaduna cabs had made, they would pay for the full value of the cars in monthly instalments of 36 months.
He said: “We believe that all the major cities in our state deserve a decent taxi cab service. Whether to the airport, from hotels, or on our major roads, it must be possible for a passenger to commute in conditions of comfort and safety.
“We have designed this taxi cab service to do more than expand choice. In addition to safety, comfort and an enhanced user experience, the cab scheme is a means of creating jobs and empowering owner-drivers. We hope that many of our young people will find owning and running their own taxi cab a fulfilling business.”
