- Ministry of Transport
By Morlai Sesay
With the too many social media backlashes on the ticket prices, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation has, in a public notice dated Wednesday, 31st January 2024, maintained that the NLe 10 paid by passengers only serves as a one-way payment. That is, it is not for the entire day using the buses as purported by some individuals on social media.
Following the launch of the 50 new buses in Freetown by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, which was meant to ease the challenges in the transport sector, there has been much speculation about ticket prices and the sustainable movement of buses by many Sierra Leoneans.
The buses nicknamed “Waka Fine” are moving more people faster and began free three-day operation from the 29th of January to the 1st of February, 2024. After which, the payment process of Nle 10 will start the following day for passengers plying from Calaba Town and Lumely to the Central Business District.
The Ministry of Transport and Aviation further revealed that they must introduce a card system to ease the payment process. The installation of the card machines may start in March this year, adding that the paper ticket payment might still be in session even when the card system will have to start operating to help individuals who do not have the card and those coming to Freetown from the provinces and overseas for a short time.
According to the Press Statement, the pending cards would be recharged through Orange or Africell Money or at the Bus stations. The Ministry entreated the public to try to purchase the tickets at the different Bus stations should they want to board the Waka Fine buses starting on Friday, February 2nd, 2024, as the free operations end on Thursday, February 1st, 2024.
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