In a move aimed at providing relief to Nigerians during the festive season, President Bola Tinubu has granted approval for a 50 percent reduction in the price of interstate transport fare from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024. The announcement was made by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, during a briefing with State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday.
According to Alake, commuters can take advantage of the reduced fares on public transport, including mini buses and luxury buses, which will now be available at half the current cost. Additionally, all train services operating during the specified period will be offered to travelers at zero cost.
“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow, Thursday, December 21, and 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,” Alake stated.
He further assured that all relevant stakeholders in the transportation industry had been engaged and that the Ministry of Transportation was well-prepared to execute the initiative. Meetings with the Presidents of various transport unions had taken place, ensuring that everything was in top shape for the smooth implementation of the program.
However, Alake clarified that air travel was excluded from the initiative, emphasizing that the focus was on providing relief to the masses. “The initiative is for the masses. Air is luxury. The masses don’t use air transport. So they are our main target,” he explained. The move is expected to ease the financial burden on travelers and enhance accessibility to transportation options during the festive season.