Yuletide: Tinubu cushions hardship with 50% reduction in transport fare, free train rides

In view of the harsh economic realities impacting the masses, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved a 50 percent slash in the price of interstate transport fare for Nigerians traveling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024.

Investigations by Nigerian NewsDirect revealed that transportation costs have increased astronomically by over 110 percent due to the festivities and the impact of the removal of subsidy.

Many families when Nigerian NewsDirect conducted a survey had opted to remain at their dwelling instead of travelling to their village and hometown as their custom is.

The President also approved free rides for commuters on all train services within the period.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, announced this to State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday.

Alake said: “It is in this wise that the President is announcing through us that beginning from tomorrow, December 21, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via mini buses, luxury buses at 50 percent discount of current cost and all our train services on the route the trains currently serve at zero cost on their travels this holiday season.

“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, the Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.”

Alake added that, “I can tell you that all the relevant stakeholders in that industry have been discussed with or been engaged and all the parameters laid out and the Minister of Transportation has the full details and it’s on top of the game.”

“In fact, the Presidents of the various transport unions have been met and everything is in top shape in terms of execution.”

However, Alake said air iravel was excluded from the initiative because the initiative is targeted at 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.