BY LARABA JAURO,
About 710 non-indigenes residing in Borno State have been provided with free transportation to travel home for the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The gesture which was provided by the state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum has been running annually since 2020.
It aimed to alleviate economic hardships and foster unity among Nigeria's diverse regions.
The free transport program, which covers various destinations across Nigeria, including North Central, South East, South West, and South South regions, is divided into three batches.
The first batch of 285 individuals departed on Saturday, with the second batch scheduled for Sunday and the remaining 140 set to travel on Monday.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Mal. Dauda Iliya, each of the 710 travellers will also receive a cash sum of N50,000 to further ease their journey.
This gesture has been praised by various community leaders, including Chief Ugochukwu Egwidike, Chairman of the Ohaneze All Progressives Congress (APC) support group, who commended Gov . Zulum for his consistent efforts to assist the less fortunate.
'Apart from enhanced reduced transportation in city, Gov. Zulum's administration has been offering free transportation scheme for all the non indigenes in every Yuletide season like this to connect any part of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, with total 710 beneficiaries reached annually, thus bridging the gap in mobility and connectivity, and promoting economic growth and development,' he said.