Trains to ferry passengers free of charge
By Egena Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu has approved a special presidential initiative to lessen the cost of transportation during the Yuletide season.
Accordingly, the initiative is to work with luxurious bus companies to reduce their prices by 50% along 22 interstate routes, while
movement during the period by train along the existing routes would be free of charge to enable Nigerians willing to travel to do so with less financial strain.
The Chairman of the Presidential Intervention on Public Transportation and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who disclosed this during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, said that the initiative takes effect from December 21 2023 and ends on January 4, 2024.
Flanked by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris and his Transportation counterpart, Saidu Alkali, Alake explained that President Tinubu approved the gesture in the spirit of Christmas and the end of year festivities as well as to demonstrate his love for Nigerians.
He said the intervention is intended to bring down the cost of public transportation to allow citizens who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden imposed by the high cost of transport around this period.”
Alake said: “The President is well aware of the recent increase in cost of inter-state transportation and even for air travel. Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and end of year to be with families and friends and this has been the practice for ages.
“We also know that globally, intra-country travels and movement of people, goods and services always peak around Christmas and end of the year because of the socio-gravitational pull of the period which transporters always cash on to increase fares astronomically. In recognition of the economic situation of the country which he is working very hard to turn around, President Tinubu wants Nigerians to be able to travel within Nigeria to wherever they want to go to meet their loved ones without the extra-burden of paying exorbitantly for inter-state public transportation.
“It is in this wise that the Federal Government is announcing, beginning from tomorrow, a special discounted holiday season fare on road transport and zero-fare by rail across Nigeria. What this means is that from tomorrow, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via minibuses, luxury buses at 50% discount of current cost and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve at zero cost to and fro on their travels this holiday season.
“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow Thursday, December 21. It will end on January 4, 2024. The Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation will be working with transporters, road transport unions, Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.
“From tomorrow (Thursday), Nigerians wishing to embark on inter-state travel to any part of the country from Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major inter-state transportation hubs will be able to do so at half the cost.
“The Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu is working very hard to make sure Nigerians have a memorable and happy holiday season. The President has already directed the Police, Department of State Services, the Military and other security agencies to work collaboratively to ensure the holiday period is safe without any security breach in any part of the country.
“While we wish all Nigerians a great holiday season, we implore everyone to be law abiding, be security conscious, be our brother’s keepers, extend every goodwill to our families, friends and neighbours. We should continue to work within our sphere of influence to make our country the very best we all desire her to be.
“While we celebrate and enjoy all the social activities that come with the season, let us also remember to celebrate in moderation. On behalf of President Bola Tinubu, we wish all Nigerians Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year in advance. Thank you all for your attention”
The Minister of Transportation, in his remarks, noted that the existing train services of Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itapke, and Abuja-Kaduna will maintain their existing schedules throughout the period.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation said the gesture will be implemented from time to time as deemed fit and not a one-off initiative.
