FG Slashes Transport Fare To South-East, Other Regions By 50%

… Pays GIG, ALBON For 708 Buses

The federal government has subsidised the cost of transportation to the East, Northern regions and other parts of Nigeria by 50 per cent.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Minister of Transportation.

According to the ministry, the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali said the palliative will kick off on Tuesday, December 24, 2024 and end January 5, 2025.

He said the palliative is part of the 2024 Yuletide Road transportation Palliative which began with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The ministry said, Alkali has “Directed the leadership of Road Transportation Unions – Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), God is Good Motors (GIGM), and Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) to ensure that their palliative buses are moved to the designated loading points early on the 24th December, 2024 to begin moving Nigerians who seek to take advantage of the Road Transport to join their loved ones across the country for Christmas (2024) and New Year Day (2025).”

The minister expressed regrets that the scheme is taking off late. He explained that the delay was due to some logistic issues, adding it has “now been largely sorted.”

The minister said, “Nigerians who intend to use this scheme from Abuja will take off from Eagle Square by 6.00 a.m., while those who are taking off from Lagos are to use Oshodi Terminal 3 for those going Northern routes and Oshodi Terminal 2 for those going Southern routes. Time for daily take-off is 6 a.m. However, some of the participating luxury buses are taking off by 6-7p.m. daily from Oshodi, Lagos.

“Passengers intending to take advantage of the Yuletide Road Transportation Palliative should note that they will be required to pay 50 per cent of the cost that they will otherwise pay. The Management of Federal Ministry of Transportation has further advised that Nigerians should please avoid rushing in the face of the limited numbers of vehicles designated for the 2024 Yuletide Bus Palliative to avoid unpleasant experiences.”

On the number of routes, the ministry said the busses would cover “144 routes from Abuja and Lagos to all State Capitals except Anambra, which will be Onitsha with 708 vehicles have planned for the 2024 Yuletide Road Transport Palliative.

“Kicking off on Tuesday, 24th of December, 2024, and running till Sunday, 5th January 2025, means that the scheme will last for 13 days, Alkali stated.

“It should be recalled that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is already running 100 per cent free-train ride on its 6 corridors across the country. For the 2024 Yuletide and New Year (Up to 5th of January, 2025), it is hoped that 17, 588 persons will be moved to and fro daily, and 288,644 passengers will be moved to and fro across the nation.”

FG Slashes Transport Fare To South-East, Other Regions By 50% is first published on The Whistler Newspaper