The Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the End of Year Transportation Subsidy Programme, Minister Dele Alake, reported that over 163,000 passengers availed themselves of the Federal Government’s subsidized inter-state travel initiative during the end-of-year festive period.
In a progress report released on Monday, Alake, who also serves as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, highlighted the cost-saving benefits enjoyed by passengers. According to him, travelers to Abuja and Onitsha saved N21,500 and N15,000 respectively on their trips due to the subsidy.
The Federal Government had announced a 50 per cent reduction in transportation costs along 22 interstate routes in December 2023 for the Yuletide season.
Alake, through his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, detailed the program’s impact, stating, “Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures available show that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77,122 passengers, and 652 bus trips originating travels from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766. This means no fewer than 163,878 passengers benefitted from the Presidential Yuletide Transportation Subsidy in the first 10 days of the programme.
“Secondly, while train-bound passengers enjoyed total free service, road travellers paid only 50 per cent of the fares. The subsidies depended on the fares ranging from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja road trip fare of N43,000 and N15,000 on a Lagos–Onisha bus fare of N30,000.”
He emphasized the program’s continued operation, urging passengers and bus companies to collaborate in facilitating the return trips until Thursday, January 4, 2024. The ongoing initiative aims to manage passengers’ journeys back to their respective destinations.
