The State Transport Company(STC) has appealed to passengers to remain patient amid growing concerns over long waiting hours at its terminals and the condition of some of its buses.
Management said steps are already being taken to address the challenges, including plans to expand the company’s fleet with about 120 additional buses by the end of the year.
The concerns follow a viral video in which some passengers complained about prolonged delays and what they described as poor service delivery at various STC terminals across the country.
Responding to the concerns, the Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance and Administration, Nuru Hamidan, explained that the delays are largely linked to strict safety procedures conducted after every trip.
“We have standards that we follow. What differentiates us from other buses is safety. Whenever a bus offloads passengers, it goes straight to the workshop for proper checks before it hits the road again,” he said.
Mr. Hamidan, however, acknowledged that the corporation is currently operating with a limited number of buses, a situation he said has affected service delivery and contributed to passenger frustrations. He assured customers that management is working to improve operations and reduce delays.
Meanwhile, the company said it is expecting about 120 new buses to be added to its fleet before the end of the year, a move it believes will significantly improve service delivery and ease pressure at terminals nationwide.
STC further noted that, in the interim, it is relying on alliance partnerships with other transport operators to help manage passenger demand and reduce the impact of the current fleet shortage.