The Federal Government (FG) has revealed that there will be a 50% slash in all road transport this Yuletide period to cushion the economic effect for travellers, News About Nigeria reports.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday, adding that the subsidised rate on transportation will take effect from the 21st of December to the 4th of January 2024.
He further disclosed that the President has also approved a zero fare for train transportation in all the states of the federation within the same period, so anyone who wishes to travel by train could do so for free within the stipulated period.
He noted that everything has been put in place, and all logistics needed to make the implementation successful have been worked out between the Minister of Transportation, the transport unions, and luxury bus owners.
Alake further stated that this initiative by the president was in order to provide assistance and relief to the masses in this Yuletide season.
“It is on record that the masses don’t patronise airport travel. This programme is not beyond the affordability of the government,” he said.
Recall that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a similar move, had approved a 50 percent fare reduction on all transportation means owned and run by the government in August, stating that it was to ameliorate the biting effect of petrol subsidy removal by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
He also proposed a 25 percent reduction for private commercial bus operators.
