Tinubu approves 50% fare reduction; train transport free

President Tinubu says Federal Government will bear  50% of the transport fares for interstate  road travellers during Christmas and New Year.

Government is executing the discounted fares with luxury bus operators on 22 routes. Train rides will be absolutely free. The policy takes effect from 21 December and ends 4 January 2024.

The President has also granted 100percent free rail train trips across Kaduna -Abuja, Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe routes.

Briefing State House Correspondents on Wednesday at the Council Chamber, the Chairman, Inter-Ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention, Dr. Dele Alake alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the President in demonstration of his love for Nigerians, approved that the Federal Government intervenes to bring down the cost of public transportation.

Alake said this is to allow Nigerians who intend to travel for the yuletide season visit their loved ones.

He further stated that it is in recognition of the economic situation of the country that the President granted the waiver to reduce the cost of interstate public transportation for travellers.

“In the spirit of Christmas and the end of year festivities, President Bola Tinubu, in another demonstration of his love for Nigerians, has approved that the Federal Government should intervene to bring down the cost of public transportation to allow our compatriots who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden imposed by the high cost of transport around this period.

“The President is well aware of the recent increase in cost of inter-state transportation and even for air travel. Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and end of year to be with families and friends and this has been the practice for ages.

“The Chairman of the Committee added that the special discount granted by the President will begin December 21st and January 4th.

“It is in this wise that the Federal Government is announcing, beginning from tomorrow, a special discounted holiday season fare on road transport and zero-fare by rail across Nigeria.

“What this means is that from tomorrow, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via minibuses, luxury buses at 50% discount of current cost and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve at zero cost to and fro on their travels this holiday season.

“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow Thursday, December 21. It will end on January 4, 2024.

Alake further revealed that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation will be working with transporters, road transport unions, Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on the special presidential initiative.

“From tomorrow, Nigerians wishing to embark on inter-state travel to any part of the country from Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major inter-state transportation hubs will be able to do so at half the cost,” Dr Alake added.

Speaking on reasons for engaging luxurious Bus Unions, the Minister of State for Transport, Sa’idu Alkali stated that the government partnered with transport companies operating these formats following their well organised structures across the country.

“Why we decided to use luxury buses union is because they are more organised and more structured. So, we held a meeting with the president of the union and they gave us an idea on how much they charge on a normal day but during festive when the buses travel, they return empty and it is on that account that they have to increase the fare during festivities. That has been taken into account. We held several meetings with Mr. President.

He further explained that the government considered security situations if the country hence it’s consideration for 50percent reduction in road transport.

“And why we decided to have 50 percent for the land transport, you see when you have this kind of initiative or programme to implement, you have to be mindful of the security situation. If you say it’s for free, even those that did not intend to travel will just go to the park and say I want to travel. But with this 50%, they have the ticketing system.

“So, for those who intend to travel, the federal government will provide 50 percent for them. They do one trip daily, we are going to maintain that.” The Minister added.

Others at the briefing are the Special Adviser to the President on Information and strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga and Temitope Ajayi.