Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
A simple Facebook post has sparked an unexpectedly fierce debate across Benue State and beyond, with thousands of citizens weighing in on the performance of the two major state-supported transport companies: Benue Links and the relatively new Flight Transport Services.
The post, uploaded by administrator Benjamin P. Mary, carries the straightforward title “VOICES FROM THE STREET OF NIGERIA – TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FEEDBACK” and directly appeals to the people of Benue and regular travelers on the routes served by the two operators. In polite but firm language, the post asks users to “provide an honest rating” of their experiences with both Benue Links and Flight, stressing that the feedback will be used to improve services for everyone.
Accompanying the appeal are side-by-side photographs of the familiar white buses: one proudly bearing the Benue Links logo, the other displaying the newer Flight branding in bold red stripes.
What started as a routine call for public input has quickly snowballed into one of the liveliest comment sections seen on Benue-related pages in recent months. Within hours, the post had attracted over 200 comments and hundreds of reactions, with opinions sharply divided.
Long-time users of Benue Links praised the company for its reliability over the years, affordable fares, and the fact that it has remained a household name even after decades of operation. Many argued that the older fleet, though sometimes showing its age, still gets people home safely and on time.
On the other side, a growing number of commenters enthusiastically backed Flight Transport Services, citing newer vehicles, cleaner interiors, friendlier staff, and what they describe as a more professional overall experience. Some accused Benue Links of resting on past glory while others countered that Flight’s slightly higher fares are not justified on certain routes.
A few commenters took the opportunity to vent broader frustrations: late departures, overloading, poor maintenance, reckless driving, and unhelpful terminal staff; complaints that, unfortunately, are not unique to Benue but seem to hit especially close to home when it’s the state’s own transport outfits under scrutiny.
What makes this particular feedback drive noteworthy is the tone set by the organizers. The post repeatedly emphasizes the need for “unbiased” and “honest” assessments, an unusual plea in a country where public discourse about government services often descends into tribal, political, or purely sentimental camps. By placing both companies side by side and explicitly asking travelers to judge them on merit, the initiative appears to be a genuine attempt at data collection rather than a public-relations stunt.
As of now, the comment thread continues to grow, with new testimonies pouring in by the hour. Some users have posted photographs of torn seats and dirty floors, while others shared selfies inside spotless Flight buses, complete with working air-conditioning and complimentary bottled water.
Whether this crowd-sourced review will actually translate into tangible improvements remains to be seen, but for the moment it has given ordinary travelers; students returning from school, traders heading to village markets, civil servants visiting family upcountry; an unusually loud and direct voice in shaping the future of public transportation in Benue State.
One thing is clear: when you ask the people of Benue for their honest opinion, you’d better be ready for exactly that, honest, unfiltered, and in full volume.
