President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s gesture to subsidize public transport fares by 50 percent on some routes across the country has generated mixed reactions from travellers.
While some see it as a welcome relief during the festive season, others see it as unrealistic.
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’id Alkali, had on Thursday, December 19, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with transport unions to offer a 50 percent discount on fares during the festive season.
The agreement was signed on behalf of the federal government by Sen. Alkali, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Adeleye Adeoye.
The agreement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) aim to provide relief for travellers nationwide.
The ministry also signed agreement with the Association of Luxurious Bus of Nigeria(ALBON) and God is Good Motors(GIGM) to offer discounted fares from Abuja and Lagos to other parts of Nigeria.
Prior to this, the federal government had already kicked off the festive season with a generous gesture, offering complimentary train rides to passengers.
A correspondent of Persecondnews’ visit to the Utako Motor Park on Thursday afternoon revealed a stark contrast to the government’s directive, as transport fares had surprisingly surged to unprecedented levels, leaving numerous travelers stunned and struggling to cope.
For example, transport fares for GUO Motors have been listed as N67,000 for trips from Abuja to Enugu, and N69,000 from Abuja to Lagos.
For travellers embarking on night journeys, Chisco Motors is offering two options: small buses from Abuja to Onitsha are N45,000, while luxury buses on the same route are available for N40,000.
For those travelling during the day, Chisco Motors has a uniform fare of N55,000 for all buses plying the Abuja to Onitsha route.
Travellers on Chisco Motors’ Abuja to Lagos route are expected to pay N50,000 for daytime trips, while night journeys are priced at a more affordable N35,000.
Ekeson Motors’ morning bus services from Abuja are as follows: trips to Aba will cost N60,000, while journeys to Ibadan are available for N55,000.
Ifesinachi Motors has set its fares as follows: Abuja to Lagos, N50,000; and Abuja to Port Harcourt, N55,000.
A visit to Jabi Park revealed that the current fares for intercity travel are steep, with trips from Abuja to Kaduna costing N8,000 and journeys from Abuja to Zaria priced even higher at N9,000.
Travellers from Abuja to Kano have two options: Peugeot Expert Transport Company, which charges N14,000, or Sharon Siena Company, which offers the same route for N16,000.
The cost of travelling from Abuja to Sokoto was pegged at a staggering N22,000, sparking concerns among commuters.
Borno Express Transport Corporation fares: travellers from Abuja to Borno will pay N16,000, while those heading from Abuja to Yobe will be charged N15,000.
The transportation fare from Abuja to Lokoja has been set at N10,000.
Plateau Riders Transport Company has set the fare for its Abuja to Plateau route at N13,000.
A passenger, Mrs. Bose Olayiwola, in an interview with Persecondnews, was emotional about President Tinubu’s directive to cut transportation prices, acknowledging it as a commendable move while also expressing disappointment that it wasn’t implemented earlier to alleviate the financial strain of high transportation costs.
Olayiwola revealed that, due to the high cost of transportation, she has been forced to limit her travel companions to just two of her younger children.
She expressed relief that, thanks to the new directive, her remaining children will now be able to travel home later in the month.
She said: “Normally, I travel to Ibadan with all six of my children every Christmas, but this year, the high cost of transportation and the challenging economic situation forced me to make a difficult decision, and I’m only going to travel with two of my younger children.
“President Tinubu’s directive is a welcome move, but its impact would have been greater if it had been implemented earlier, ideally around December 15, allowing early travellers to also benefit from it.
“Although I am personally going to miss out on the price cut, I’m thrilled that my children will now be able to travel home and celebrate the holiday season with our loved ones.”
Another traveller, Nchekwube Nsofor, strongly criticized the government for consistently favouring big transport companies with price cut agreements while leaving out smaller companies.
Nchekwube, who is travelling to Enugu, expressed concern that the price cut announcement will attract a surge of travellers to the big companies, leading to slower services.
He suggested that a more equitable distribution of the price cut among all transport companies, regardless of size, would help ensure a smoother travel experience.
He also advised the government to redeploy the corrupt policemen who are notorious for extorting money from travellers along the Abuja to Enugu route.
According to Nchekwube, the police officers stationed along the route are a significant contributor to traffic congestion, as they often delay travellers with unnecessary stops and checks.
Also speaking with Persecondnews, Mr. Anthony, a driver, advised the government to move beyond mere “cosmetic gestures” and instead implement meaningful changes that would genuinely benefit the people.
He asserted that if the government were to reduce the price of petrol, transport fares would automatically decrease, as fuel costs are a significant factor in determining transportation prices.
He said: “What many Nigerians are unaware of is that a reduction in fuel prices would directly lead to a decrease in transportation fares, as fuel costs are a significant component of the expenses incurred by transport operators.
“The exorbitant cost of motor spare parts, which is a direct consequence of our ailing economy, is another significant factor driving up the cost of transportation in the country.
“If the government can stabilize the economy, reduce fuel prices, and address other underlying issues, we will likely see a corresponding decrease in transportation costs and an overall improvement in the transport sector.”
Another traveller, Ugochukwu Nwoke, commended the president, affectionately referring to him as a “listening father.
He said: I keep telling people that we have a compassionate leader in President Bola Tinubu, who always intervenes to alleviate the burden on Nigerians whenever they complain.
“Which past president has brought out this type of initiative, listening to the complaints of the masses and acting accordingly?
“In addition to the reduction in transportation costs, the government has also made provision for free train rides, a benefit that many people are not yet aware of.
“I’m aware that the current economic climate is challenging, but I remain optimistic that everything will ultimately fall into place once the President’s bold economic initiatives begin to yield tangible results.”
This marks the second consecutive year that President Tinubu has approved a price cut during Christmas celebrations.
Persecondnews recalls that on December 20, 2023, President Tinubu announced a groundbreaking initiative, slashing interstate transport fares by 50% after securing agreements with major transport companies.
These companies included GIG (God is Good), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor.
The presidency further released a detailed document outlining the 28 designated routes that the participating buses will operate on.
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