Gom Mirian
No fewer than 163,000 Nigerians are said to be beneficiaries of the Nigerian government’s 50% transportation fare subsidy during the Christmas and New Year period, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake have said.
This information was shared in a progress report released on Monday by the Minister, who also serves as the Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the End of Year Transportation Subsidy Programme under President Bola Tinubu.
Alake further stated that those who availed of the transport subsidy were able to save N21,500 and N15,000 on trips to Abuja and Onisha, respectively.
In December 2023, the Nigerian government announced a 50% reduction in transportation costs for 22 interstate routes during the festive season, as reported by the African Health Reporter, (AHR).
The Minister’s statement, shared by his Special Adviser, Kehinde Bamigbetan, highlighted that the programme included free transportation on routes operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as well as a 50% subsidy on fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes served by the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria.
It read, “Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures available show that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77,122 passengers, and 652 bus trips originating travels from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.
“This means no fewer than 163,878 passengers benefitted from the Presidential Yuletide Transportation Subsidy in the first 10 days of the programme.
“Secondly, while train-bound passengers enjoyed total free service, road travellers paid only 50 per cent of the fares.
“The subsidies depended on the fares ranging from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja Road trip fare of N43,000 and N15,000 on a Lagos–Onisha bus fare of N30,000.”
