- The Minister in the report also revealed that 652 ‘bus trips originating travels’ from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.
- He appealed for the cooperation of the bus companies to manage the return of passengers from their respective locations till January 4, noting that the programme is still ongoing.
Over 160,000 people have benefited from the President Bola Tinubu End-of-Year Transportation Subsidy Programme, according to the Committee on Implementation of the Programme.
In a progress report released on Monday in Lagos, Committee Chairman and Minister of Solid Mineral Resources, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this.
Recall that on December 19, President Bola Tinubu gave his approval for free transportation on Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) routes.
Additionally, the President allowed a 50% subsidy on transportation charges for customers using 30 routes operated by bus companies affiliated with the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria, or ALBON.
Regarding the program’s overall evaluation thus far, Mr. Alake exclaimed that it had been a tremendous success, stressing that the transportation rebate was proof of the President’s deep affection for Nigerians.
According to him, the plan had remarkable outcomes: between December 21 and December 31, 2023, the NRC transported 71,000 passengers, while buses running under the ALBON umbrella carried 77,122 passengers.
The minister also revealed that 652 “bus trips originating travels” from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.
“Between Dec. 21 and Dec. 31, 2023, figures available show that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77, 122 passengers.
“Also, 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 travelers 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 said.
Mr Alake said the programme was a demonstration of the President’s empathy and love for the Nigerian people, who were culturally and emotionally committed to travelling to their home towns at the end of the year.
He said the programme was also aimed at easing the financial burden of the citizens, who were facing some economic challenges due to the global pandemic and other internal factors.
The minister said the committee took some remedial measures to address some identified gaps in the execution of the programme, such as adding two more routes, engaging other bus-owning stakeholders.
Mr Alake added that the committee so engaged the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, the State-owned Transport Companies, and the Private Transport Operators Association, PTONA, and collaborating and sensitising Nigerians through media platforms.
He appealed for cooperation from the passengers and the bus companies to manage the return of passengers from their respective locations back to their bases till Thursday, as the programme was still ongoing.
The minster said the yuletide transportation programme sought to meet the mass of Nigerians at their points of need.
On the arrangement for the return leg of the trip by travellers, Mr Alake also urged them to initiate their return journey as early as possible to secure seats on the coaches and buses.
He also appealed to all the bus companies involved to demonstrate faith, integrity and patriotism by applying the 50 per cent subsidy and making enough vehicles available.
The minister added that the committee would continue to monitor compliance and intervene whenever and wherever necessary.
Mr Alake, thereafter, assured that the appropriate government security agencies had been properly briefed to ensure free embarkation and disembarkation of passengers at the parks.
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