Bennett Oghifo
The Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) has said that no fewer than 112,000 passengers have so far benefitted from the 50 percent fare reduction on inter-state routes since the offer announced by the federal government took effect on Thursday, December 21, 2023. The discount will end on January 4, 2024.
This figure was disclosed yesterday by ALBON in a statement signed by the National President, Nonso Ubajaka and the Honorary Secretary, Frank Nneji.
The statement said ALBON member-companies have been mobilised towards ensuring that more passengers take advantage of the federal government’s ticket rebate to travel to various destinations before the offer ends on January 4, 2024.
ALBON said, “We wish to assure intending travellers that the issuance of the rebate tickets continue on the designated routes nationwide till January 4, 2024. And in view of the fact that many of the people who travelled for Christmas and the New Year celebrations, are likely to start returning to base soon, we have again mobilised our members for the return journeys.”
The association said it is mobising some state-owned transit companies, such as Gombe State Mass Transit and Bornu State Mass Transit and others, to join in the project for the return leg of the seasonal travels.
At some of the bus terminals and motor parks in Lagos where passengers have been benefitting from the 50 percent discount, passengers expressed their appreciation to the President and his administration for what they described as a timely palliative.
At some of the stations, including those of ABC Transport PLC, Okeyson Motors, Izuchukwu Motors; E.Ekesons, Sunquick, Gobison Transport (at Alafia) and Vienna View Ltd, departing passengers thanked the government for alleviating the pain of high fares at the time of economic hardship.
The east-bound passengers, some of whom showed tickets that indicated they paid between N18,000 and N18,200, which was 50 percent of the prevailing fare of about N36,000.
One of the passengers, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Okonkwo, who said the rebate provided a huge relief to her family, disclosed that she had given up hope of travelling with two of her children until she was able get the discounted tickets at N18,000 each.
The special fare discount was announced on Wednesday, December 20, but the ALBON members commenced the sale of the discounted tickets the following day, and will continue till January 4, 2024, according to their statement.
Among the routes approved by government for the fare slash are Lagos to major cities in the north, and south-east, and south-south, including, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Jos, Onitsha, Owerri, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakailiki, Aba, Uyo and Port Harcourt, among others.
Also listed are Onitsha to Lagos, and various destinations in the north, including, Kano, Abuja,Sokoto, Jos, and Gombe, as well as Aba-Owerri-Abuja; and Aba-Lagos.
On Friday last week, the Presidency named additional motor parks in the country where discounts can be obtained.
ALBON applauded the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government for subsidising transport fares for Nigerians during the festive season.
