President Bola Tinubu unveiled a 50 percent reduction as an incentive for luxury bus passengers and complimentary train services across all national routes commencing tomorrow, Thursday, on Wednesday.
Additionally, the government declared that train travel along existing routes will be complimentary during the holiday season so that Nigerians who wish to travel can do so without undue financial burden. It further stated that all the necessary arrangements had been finalized with the relevant stakeholders in order to streamline the gesture.
It was stated that the purpose of the gesture is to assist citizens who are significantly burdened by the exorbitant expenses associated with commuting throughout the nation, particularly during the holiday season.
Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, accompanied by his colleagues the Ministers of Information Mohammed Idriss, Transportation Saidu Alkali, and Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, made the following statement at the Presidential Villa in Abuja:
“Starting tomorrow, passengers from major inter-state transportation hubs in Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto, and others, will be eligible for discounted inter-state travel to any part of the country.”
“The Federal Government, led by President Tinubu, is diligently striving to ensure that the holiday season in Nigeria is both memorable and joyous for all Nigerian citizens.”
Alake explained that the initiative aims to reduce the cost of transportation during the Yuletide season by collaborating with opulent bus companies along 22 interstate routes to reduce their fares by fifty percent.
As per his statement, the objective of the presidential intervention is to reduce the expenses associated with public transportation. This will enable citizens to visit their loved ones and hometowns without the added strain and financial strain that arises from the exorbitant cost of transportation during this time.
Alake, the chairman of the six-member interministerial committee on presidential intervention, elaborated: “The President is fully cognizant of the recent escalation in airfare and interstate transportation expenses.” Our people have always enjoyed traveling at this time of year and around the holidays in order to spend time with family and friends. This has been the case for centuries.
“It is also common knowledge that worldwide, intra-country travel and the movement of people, goods, and services reach their highest points around Christmas and the end of the year due to the socio-gravitational pull of the season, which airlines exploit to charge exorbitant fares.”
“As an expression of concern for the nation’s economic state, which President Tinubu is diligently endeavoring to rectify, he desires that Nigerians have the ability to visit their loved ones within the country without incurring the exorbitant cost of interstate public transportation.”
“Therefore, the Federal Government is announcing, starting tomorrow, a special discounted holiday season fare on road transport throughout Nigeria and a fare-free service by rail.”
“Therefore, beginning tomorrow, Nigerians who are interested in traveling during the holiday season will be able to board public transportation via minibuses, luxury buses, and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve at no cost to and from.”
“This extraordinary presidential intervention is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 21st, tomorrow.” The end date is January 4, 2024.
Alake stated, “The Federal Government, via the Ministry of Transportation, will collaborate with road transport unions, transporters, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to ensure that this special presidential initiative is executed without a hitch.”
“Starting tomorrow, passengers from major inter-state transportation hubs in Nigeria, including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto, and others, will be eligible for discounted inter-state travel to any part of the country.”
“The Federal Government, led by President Tinubu, is diligently striving to ensure that the holiday season in Nigeria is both memorable and joyous for all Nigerian citizens.”
“Presently, the Police, Department of State Services, Military, and other security agencies have been instructed by the President to collaborate in order to guarantee a secure holiday season devoid of any security breaches across the nation.”
“During this festive season, we extend our sincere wishes to all Nigerians for adherence to the law, vigilance regarding security, guardianship of our fellow countrymen, and the best wishes for goodwill towards our families, friends, and neighbors.” Further efforts should be made within our spheres of influence to transform our nation into the model nation that we all aspire for it to be.
“Let us remember to celebrate in moderation while we partake in the social activities that accompany the season and enjoy our festivities.”
In his statement, the Minister of Transportation affirmed that the established train schedules for Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itapke, and Abuja-Kaduna will remain unchanged during the entire duration.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation stated that the gesture is not an isolated occurrence, but rather a recurring program that the government may deem appropriate.