CURRENTREPORT: The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, announced on Monday that a total of 128 individuals traveling from Abuja to various destinations in the North have benefited from a 50% discount on their transport fares. The Federal Ministry of Transportation, through its Director of Press and Public Relations, issued a statement confirming the implementation of this discount. The ministry’s Situation Room Monitoring Team observed that drivers on inter-state routes have been adhering to President Tinubu’s directive, providing the discounted fares.
The statement highlighted that travelers from Abuja heading to destinations in the North, such as Gombe, Bauchi, Yola, and Maiduguri, enjoyed the reduced transportation costs, paying only half of the usual fares for each destination. The Association of Luxury Bus Owners (ALBON) played a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of the discount, collaborating with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to ensure timely reimbursements for passengers. Clement Okuefuna oversaw the disbursement of reimbursements at the Area 1 motor park in Abuja.
ALBON’s partnership with NURTW ensured that passengers received a prompt refund of half their fare payments upon boarding designated vehicles, turning President Tinubu’s transport palliative into a reality. The statement emphasized the success of this initiative, mentioning that the last 16-seater passenger bus heading for Bauchi and Maiduguri, which loaded at the Area 1 Motor Park in Abuja, successfully concluded the operation with passengers receiving half of their transport fares refunded.
Earlier reports from CurrentReport highlighted President Tinubu’s approval of a 50% reduction in inter-state transport fares for Nigerians traveling during the Yuletide period, spanning from December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024. Additionally, free rides on all train services were approved for commuters during this period. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on presidential intervention, Dele Alake, had previously announced these gestures at the Aso Rock Villa.
