For Smoother Yuletide, FG Approves Free Transportation for Commuters

•Favours Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Warri-Itakpe rail corridors 

•Okays 50% reduction in road transportation on 28 routes nationwide

Deji Elumoye, Kasim Sumaina and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

In the spirit of Yuletide, the federal government, yesterday, rolled out programmes aimed at reducing the burden of rising inter-state transportation fares across the country.

The government announced rebate for commercial road and rail transportation across 28 luxury bus routes and three railway corridors nationwide.

Chairman of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, disclosed the measures while briefing newsmen at State House, Abuja.

Alake said President Bola Tinubu had approved a 50 per cent rebate in inter-state land transportation fare across 28 luxurious bus routes nationwide from December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024.

According to him, the president also okayed zero fare for train commuters along Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, and Warri-Itakpe corridors within the period.

He said all the logistics required for the implementation of the programme had been worked out between the Minister of Transportation and the transport unions and luxurious bus owners.

The minister stated, “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.

“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 socio-gravitational pull of the period which transporters always cash on to increase fares astronomically.

“In recognition of the economic situation of the country, which he is working very hard to turn around, President Tinubu wants Nigerians to be able to travel within Nigeria to wherever they want to go to meet their loved ones without the extra-burden of paying exorbitantly for inter-state public transportation.

“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 explained, “The federal government through the Ministry of Transportation will be working with transporters, road transport unions, Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this 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.

“The federal government under the leadership of President Tinubu is working very hard to make sure Nigerians have a memorable and happy holiday season.”

Alake further announced that necessary security arrangements had been put in place to ensure that the transportation arrangement worked according to schedule.

According to him, “The president has already directed the police, Department of State Services, the military, and other security agencies to work collaboratively to ensure the holiday period is safe without any security breach in any part of the country.

“While we wish all Nigerians a great holiday season, we implore everyone to be law abiding, be security conscious, be our brother’s keepers, extend every goodwill to our families, friends and neighbours. We should continue to work within our sphere of influence to make our country the very best we all desire her to be.”

Justifying government’s involvement of luxury bus unions in executing the programme, Minister for Transportation, Saedu Alkali, told reporters that the government partnered transport companies operating the formats following their well-organised structures across the country.

Alkali stated, “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 period when the buses travel, they return empty and it is on that account that they have to increase the fair during festivities. That has been taken into account. We held several meetings with Mr President.”

The minister explained that the government considered the prevailing security situation in the country, hence, its consideration for 50 per cent reduction in road transport.

He said, “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 per cent, they have the ticketing system.

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

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said Nigerians should expect more of such interventions from Tinubu during national holidays.

Idris said the 50 per cent reduction in the cost of road transportation during this year’s Yuletide would not be a one-off intervention by the president.

According to him, “I just want to add that this is part of the measures that President Bola Tinubu intends to be doing, this is not a one-off thing and even though this is targeted at Christmas, the president will continue to review situations, especially during national holidays like this and see what kind of interventions can come subsequently, going forward.”

Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the intention to commence free train service on its entire corridors from today December 21, 2023 to Thursday, January 4, 2024, both days inclusive. NRC said this was in line with Tinubu’s directive to aid commuters during the December holidays.

NRC, however, warned that no commuter would be allowed to board the train without a ticket.

The corporation, in statement by its management, advised passengers to obtain their free tickets via the online e-ticketing platforms only.

The statement said, “Tickets will not be issued at any of the corporation’s train stations. We enjoin commuters to be orderly, obey security personnel and the laid down boarding instructions of the NRC and those of its officials while at the station and on-board the trains.

“We wish all our esteemed customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.”

Minister of Interior, Tunji Olubunmi-Ojo, spoke on the issue of securing mining sites, saying the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would play a significant role in the new security architecture in the works. Olubunmi-Ojo stressed that collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development remained unflinching.

The 28 Road Transport Routes

The 28 luxury bus daily routes, effective December 21, 2023, include Lagos-Kano, Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Kaduna-Zaria, Lagos-Jos, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Onitsha, Lagos-Owerri, Lagos-Aba, Lagos-Abakaliki, Lagos-Nsukka, Lagos-Uyo, Lagos-Port Harcourt, Onitsha-Kano, and Onitsha-Lagos.

Others are Onitsha-Jos, Onitsha-Abuja, Onitsha-Sokoto, Onitsha-Gombe, Onitsha-Zakibiam, Port Harcourt-Owerri-Aba-Kano, Aba-Owerri-Abuja, Aba-Lagos, Abuja-Sokoto, Abuja-Lagos, Abuja-Onitsha-Owerri-Port Harcourt, Abuja-Enugu/Abakaliki, Abuja-Gombe, and Abuja-Kano.