The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has stated that the transport subsidy that was introduced by the Federal Government during the yuletide season was a tremendous success, News About Nigeria reports.
The minister made this known in a statement on Monday, revealing that over 160 passengers were beneficiaries of the transport subsidy.
Alake, who headed the Committee on the Implementation of the End-of-Year Transportation Subsidy Programme of President Bola Tinubu, noted that he was glad the subsidised inter-state trips for the end-of-year festive period were warmly welcomed by Nigerians and utilised maximally.
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Alake noted that President Bola Tinubu, through the programme, provided free transportation for Nigerians on the routes of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and 50 percent subsidy on transport fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes that are serviced by bus operators under the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria.
According to him, between December 21 and December 31, 2023, one of the transport companies, NRC, conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses under the aegis of ALBON conveyed 77,122 passengers and 652 bus trips originating from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766 passengers.
He noted that according to the figures provided, at least 160,000 passengers were beneficiaries of the transport subsidy within its first 10 days of implementation.
He further noted that while train passengers enjoyed free rides, bus passengers were able to save 50 percent of their bus fares, which went a long way in cushioning the effects of the high transport costs.
Alake, however, appealed to the bus companies and passengers alike to continue to give their full cooperation and work together so the passengers can return to their various destinations, adding that the transport subsidy programme still had until Thursday, January 4, 2024, to be valid.
