The Federal Government has launched a transportation palliative initiative to alleviate the economic burden on Nigerians during the Yuletide season. The scheme, which includes a 50% discount on road transportation fares and free train rides, commenced on December 20 and will run until January 5, 2024.
Transportation Minister, Senator Said Alkali, stated that the initiative is expected to benefit 608,644 passengers, with 320,000 commuters being conveyed via rail and 288,644 by road. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is operating free train services on major routes such as Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos Intra-City, Warri-Itakpe, Port Harcourt-Aba, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mass Transit Service.
In the road transportation component, which began yesterday at the Oshodi Transport Interchange in Lagos, 708 vehicles have been deployed to transport passengers across the country. Participating transport unions, including the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), have mobilized their members to ensure seamless operations.
Major routes covered under the road palliative include Abuja to southern cities such as Aba, Benin, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, as well as Lagos to destinations like Asaba, Uyo, Warri, and Yenagoa. Northern routes include Lagos to Jos, Kano, Maiduguri, and Sokoto.
The transport unions expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the initiative, emphasizing that it would ease the financial burden of high transportation costs during the holiday season. They urged travelers to take advantage of the offer by visiting designated motor parks and transport terminals to pay half of the usual fares.
Luxury bus operators, including Chisco Transport, ABC Transport, Young Shall Grow, and God Is Good Motors, have assured passengers of adequate bus availability on a first-come, first-served basis.
Minister Alkali explained that while the rail service commenced earlier, the road palliative required additional feasibility studies and stakeholder consultations. He assured Nigerians of transparency, with ministry officials deployed to monitor compliance and reconciliation mechanisms in place to prevent financial losses.
The initiative has already recorded a surge in patronage, with thousands of Nigerians taking advantage of the discounted fares to reunite with their families for the holidays.
