President Bola Tinubu has approved a special presidential initiative to lessen the cost of transportation during the Yuletide season, working with luxurious bus companies to reduce their prices by 50% along 22 interstate routes.
It has also declared movement during the period by train along the existing routes free of charge to enable Nigerians willing to travel to do so with less financial strain.
The Chairman of the Presidential Intervention on Public Transportation and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, said that the initiative takes effect from December 21, 2023, and ends on January 4, 2024.
Flanked by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and his Transportation counterpart, Saidu Alkali, Alake explained that President Tinubu approved the gesture in the spirit of Christmas and the end-of-year festivities, as well as to demonstrate his love for Nigerians.
He said the intervention is intended to bring down the cost of public transportation to allow citizens 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.”
Alake added, “The President is well aware of the recent increase in the cost of interstate transportation and even air travel. Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and the end of the year to be with families and friends, and this has been the practice for ages.
“We also know that globally, intra-country travel and movement of people, goods, and services always peak around Christmas and the end of the year because of the 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 way that the Federal Government is announcing, beginning 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 and luxury buses at a 50% discount on the current cost, and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve will be at zero cost to and from their travels this holiday season.
“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow, Thursday, December 21. It will end on January 4, 2024.
“The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, will be working with transporters, road transport unions, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.
“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 Tinubu, is working very hard to make sure Nigerians have a memorable and happy holiday season.
“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 breaches 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, and 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 it can be.
“While we celebrate and enjoy all the social activities that come with the season, let us also remember to celebrate in moderation. On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, we wish all Nigerians a Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year in advance. Thank you all for your attention.”
The Minister of Transportation, in his remark, noted that the existing train services of Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itapke, and Abuja-Kaduna will maintain their existing schedules throughout the period.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation said the gesture will be implemented from time to time as deemed fit and is not a one-off initiative.
