By Liambee Kenneth, Makurdi

Benue Links Transport Limited has created over 130 permanent and pensionable jobs in the last three years, with significant improvements in operations and fleet capacity.

General Manager of the company, Comrade Alexander Fanafa, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists in his office in Makurdi.

He said the state-owned transport company has recorded major transformation since June 2023.

Fanafa said the first recruitment exercise engaged more than 85 drivers through a transparent process.

He explained that the process involved officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Vehicle Inspection Office, and drug screening by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Department of State Services.

“On assumption of office in June 2023, I inherited few operational vehicles at a time the removal of fuel subsidy was biting hard. Governor Hyacinth Alia swiftly donated 100 new buses to the company with a directive to reduce transport fare in order to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy on commuters. That intervention was a turning point for us,” Fanafa said.

He added that the company has since acquired about 30 additional vehicles, including taxis and haulage trucks, under a sustainability plan designed to ensure continuous fleet renewal beyond the governor’s initial intervention.

The General Manager commended Governor Alia’s administration for securing permanent parks for Benue Links in four locations, including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

He said the developments have positioned the company to serve commuters better while creating employment opportunities for Benue indigenes.