By Sallieu S. Kanu
The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Col. (Rtd.) Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq., has said that he is committed to addressing challenges in the country’s transport sector.
He was speaking during the weekly government press briefing in the conference room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
The Transport Minister said government aimed to ensure that citizens have access to transportation nationwide. “Within the next five years, transportation will be provided for people across all levels including remote villages,” he assured.
Alhaji Fanday Turay explained that they have looked at the Ministry’s strategic plan to map out strategies for the future with the desire to achieve success in land, air and sea transportation in Sierra Leone.
He informed that government is, with the support of the World Bank, on the verge of bringing an additional 50 new buses to address the transportation problem in Freetown.
The move, according to him, is in line with the vision of President Julius Maada Bio in making the transport sector very attractive, calling on other sectors to come on board to make the project achieve its objective.
He said that a cashless bus fare transaction will be introduced, and that the services will be very timely and efficient.
The Minister also disclosed that effective March 2024, the Ethiopian Airlines will resume operations in Sierra Leone which he described as laudable.