The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation has launched the long-anticipated 50 buses in Freetown, meant to ease transportation challenges facing the transport sector and residents in recent times. The buses have been nicknamed ‘Waka Fine’.
After the launch, the buses were put on a 48-hour test run between the 31st of January and the 1st of February with the task of providing free rides to passengers in the East and West ends of Freetown. Thereafter, passengers taking the buses would begin to pay the price tag of SLL 10,000 / NLE 10 from the designated points. The price tag set for passenger fees from point to point is predicated at SLL 10,000 or NLE 10.
However, there have been hues and cries by residents in the municipality of Freetown and beyond calling on the government to sanitize and restore the transport sector, which has been plagued with many problems, from inadequate transportation systems to lack of buses or vehicles. People encounter problems daily in the West area urban and rural districts as they commute to school, workplaces, and businesses. Sometimes, it is challenging for citizens or businessmen to move their goods and products from one place to another due to inadequate transport vehicles or buses, cost of transportation, poor road infrastructure, government officials and contractors siphoning funds allocated to roads, poor road maintenance, road congestion due to urbanization and overpopulation, lack of alternative means of transportation, increasing environmental pollution by vehicles and high crime rate.
The unveiling of the 50 buses has been received with open hands but the transportation policy introduced and price tag imposed have come under heavy criticism by civil society activists, residents, and commercial motorists who described the bus transport fare and the transport regulations as exorbitant, and slammed government as unreasonable. According to them, the amount imposed on passengers for the buses doubles the normal amount that private commercial drivers take from passengers. One passenger along Lumley cried foul, saying the Waka Fine transport fare is expensive and the government should live by example. Another stressed that if the Government which should regulate the cost of transport fare, goes beyond expectation and fixes an extraordinary price, there is the likelihood that private commercial vehicles will soon raise their transport cost at the expense of the ordinary people. If they do, then there would be an added burden on ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
Be it as it may, private commercial drivers in Freetown have expressed resentment over the Ministry’s new transportation policy which the government argued is designated to improve urban mobility. The new transportation policy outlaws all commercial vehicles, bicycles, tricycles and push carts (omorlankay) from plying the Public Transport Corridor from the hours between 6 am to 10 pm. Sierra Leone Public Transport Authority (SLPTA) licensed vehicles are exempted. During these hours’ commuters are to catch one of the 50 ‘Waka Fine’ buses to make their way around the capital. The diversion of commercial vehicles from CBD areas to other roads has been heavily criticized by the general public, especially among private commercial drivers.
Commercial motor vehicle drivers have threatened a strike as the routes they are now required to ply are either congested and or road-unfriendly to their vehicles. “We will strike”, a poda poda driver said. Daniel Pewa, a media analyst described the situation as “unfair and exploitative” especially when consultations were not done extensively and the transport fare opened the room for a potential government policy-induced price increase.
However, the Secretary of the Metro Company which runs the ‘Waka Fine’ buses argued that consultations were made with representatives of the various transport unions, just that the consultations did not reach their members, a blame he shifted to Union representatives. Thomas Barnett added that not all commercial drivers and riders are part of their unions and that may likely be the reason most of them never had advanced knowledge of the policy restricting the routes they can access at certain hours of the day. According to him, the consultations started way back in 2019, and during the four years, a lot of engagements were held.
However, the Minister of Information and Civic Education Chernor Bah, while acknowledging the challenges that the new system brings, said that citizens should be a bit more patient with the government as the city transitions to a new public transport system. Secretary Barnett of the Metro Company said that SLPTA is willing to grant more licenses to privately owned buses that meet the fitness requirement, adding that road maintenance will be done in the areas where commercial vehicles and the like have been ordered to be used.
The National Secretary of Sierra Leone Importers Association Sheriff Barrie told AYV that the decision by the Ministry “is a blunder” as far as business is concerned. Barrie said consultations ought to have been held with actors in the sector to reach amicable solutions. He added that the decision is akin to asking them to close their shops
As a way to get a clear picture of what the city looks like following the two days’ operation of free rides to passengers in the East and West ends of Freetown, C4D went out to observe the situation in the city. Through the eyes, C4D observed that the roads were completely cleared off for ‘’Waka Fine’’ buses to ply the streets to and fro. For example, along the Main Motor Road from Bus Halt to Lumley, there were only Private vehicles could be seen unlike commercial vehicles, taxis, poda podas, and Kekehs. It was also observed that there was a serious transportation problem as commercial vehicles were not allowed to ply the main roots and the ‘Waka Fine’ was not enough for the testing period. What makes matters worse was the exploitation orgy launched by Okada riders who had the fiat on the road. Okada bike Riders tripled the normal price usually asked for. Whilst standing along Cole Farm / Wilkinson Road, C4D observed that Okada riders were demanding SLL 25,000/NLE 25 from Cole Farm to St John or Congo Market, Campbell Street. If the situation continues like this, it would be detrimental to the ordinary people. It will affect every facet of society, from students or pupils going to and fro their universities, colleges, and universities.
Sierra Leone’s poor salary syndrome is a big challenge, more so at the expense of parents. In this economic hardship, how could parents cope with giving their children transport fare to go to school?
What is more disheartening is the lack of alternative transport modes in the country. Motor transportation is the most widely used in Sierra Leone because of its accessibility, affordability, availability, and convenience, moving people in short-distance journeys within the city or from the city to upcountry. It is the most used transportation mode in the country, unlike air transport which is not available, and water transport which is hardly used and besides, not faster but risky.
To combat the menace and ease the challenges that encapsulated the transport sector, the World Bank supported the Government with grants to boost the transportation sector. Quite recently, upon securing the funding from the WB, the government announced that they have secured 50 buses to ease the transportation problem in the country. The announcement was received with open hands by Sierra Leoneans appreciating the government for the initiative, which is in line with the government’s agenda to consolidate the gains made and transform the country.
The launch of the 50 buses was coordinated by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone to ameliorate the challenges faced by the transport sector, especially Freetown, one of the most populated cities in Africa.
The idea of bringing 50 buses to combat the challenges facing the transport sector is worth appreciating, people say but making the transportation fee from point to point so expensive is disappointing, a university student stressed. And the road regulation relegating commercial vehicles from plying the same route is unacceptable one driver whined.
As the policy stands, one has to catch the buses on time to avert constraints and those who had the opportunity to catch up with the bus during the testing period expressed their gratitude for the convenience the new buses bring which cannot be found in other commercial vehicles.
In all of these, there are wide calls for a review of both the transport fare which is twice the current price of other buses and vans, and the access to other public transport systems for shorter distances. Challenges were also faced by those who could not catch the buses.
Businesses will also face challenges with offloading their consignments as heavy-loaded vehicles will be required to do so in the hours when the transport corridor is open to them.
According to media analyst and civil society activist, Daniel Pewa, there is a need for public education on the new system, which is also vital at the moment to prevent the misuse of routes and frequent clashes between motorists and traffic wardens.
