The Federal Government, yesterday, announced a 50 per cent cut as discount for luxury bus travellers and free train services on all routes in the country beginning from tomorrow.
It also declared that movement during the Yuletide by train along the existing routes would be free of charge to enable Nigerians willing to travel to do so with less financial strain, adding that arrangements had been worked out with stakeholders for smooth implementation.
The current administration said the gesture was to provide succour to citizens, who are heavily weighed down by the prevailing high cost of transportation, especially during the festive period.
Making the announcement at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, flanked by his colleague Ministers of Information, Mohammed Idris; Transportation, Saidu Alkali; and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “From tomorrow (Thursday), 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.
“The Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is working very hard to make sure Nigerians have a memorable and happy holiday season.”
Alake explained that the gesture was to lessen the cost of transportation during the Yuletide, adding that arrangements with luxurious bus companies to reduce their prices by 50 per cent along 22 interstate routes had been perfected.
He restated that the presidential intervention was to crash fare for willing Nigerians to visit their loved ones and hometowns during the period. Alake, who is also chairman of the six-man inter-ministerial committee on the presidential intervention, explained: “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.
“We also know that globally, intra-country travels and movement of people, goods and services always peak around Christmas and end of the year because of the socio-gravitational pull of the period which transporters always cash on to increase fare astronomically.” He stated that the initiative would end on January 4, 2024.
The Minister of Transportation, in his remarks, noted that the existing train services of Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itapke and Abuja-Kaduna would maintain their schedules throughout the period.
His Information and National Orientation counterpart, said the gesture will be implemented from time to time as deemed fit, adding that it is not a one-off thing.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have said the government is yet to reach out to the citizenry, as many continue to shelve their road travel plans on account of exorbitant fare.
A player in interstate transport said the government was yet to reach out to his company regarding the 50 per cent transport price cut. Branch Manager, GUO Transport, Nweke Bernard, specifically told The Guardian that the discount “is mirage and not feasible for travellers.”
Before now Nigerians have abandoned travelling over insecurity and high fare.They blamed the situation on removal of fuel subsidy and weakening of the naira that drastically eroded their purchasing power.
Several citizens lamented that the usual activities leading to the festivities like street and office decorations, as well as increased shopping by individuals and households were not visible due to the current economic situation in the country.
While there has not been an official increase in the fuel pump price in the last three to four months, fare has gone up between 100 and 200 per cent since the dawn of December, especially in Lagos.
Though many commuters said it is expected and has been traditional during festive season for a long time now, the reality is that the hike is subjecting many to unnecessary expenditure and suffering.
“Transporters are saying that this is their season to make money and recover from losses across the year, but the fare hike is wrong and unnecessary. Government should check it for the first time. It is swindling and criminal,” Janet Onyeche, a passenger at Obalende, said.
But the hike is more obvious in the interstate routes, where it is expected to reach 400 per cent between December 22nd and 25th. Already, passengers on the interstate route have been witnessing 50 per cent hike in fare since December 1, and as at December 16, The Guardian survey revealed that the hike was slightly above 50 per cent and could hit 100 per cent from December 18.
It meant Nigerians were to part with N75, 000 on routes they paid N25,000 before the hike.
“In this year’s festive rush, passengers will pay over N50, 000 from Lagos to visit the East and Abuja. They are our farthest routes, and fuel is too expensive except they want us to close shop,” Edwin Egbede, a driver, said at Libra Motors, Okota.
