The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said that efficient transportation system is necessary to fast-track socio-economic and industrial transformation of the state.

Ahmed spoke during the inauguration of Citycab in Ilorin, the state capital, which he said was meant to empower the people and facilitate economic transformation of the state.

He said his government was committed to ensuring improved transportation system in the state, adding that road construction remained a cornerstone of his administration's developmental drive.

"Our strategic infrastructure programme has witnessed the construction and rehabilitation of 600 kilometers of roads as well as 'Operation No Potholes' under which 33 roads with failed portions were rehabilitated. Currently, we are constructing more than 300 kilometres of rural roads to open additional communities for development," he said.

The Vice-Chairman, BVL Logistics Limited, operators of the Citycab, Mr. Bernard Ilori, said the taxi scheme was intended to ease transportation problems in the state.

He also said the scheme was designed to provide more jobs for the residents, adding that the scheme will soon grow from its 20 cabs to about 300 cabs in the fleet within few month of the inauguration of the scheme.

Ilori said to hire a cab for one hour, it would cost between N750 and N1,000; while for a full day, depending on area of coverage within the metropolis, it would cost between N7,500 and N8,000.

He said that for now, the cabs would operate within Ilorin metropolis, adding that they cabs could also go to anywhere within Nigeria.