Dr Dele Alake, heading the Committee on the Implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s Finish-of-Yr Transportation Subsidy Programme, disclosed that greater than 160,000 passengers have thus far benefited from the programme.
Alake, who additionally serves because the Minister of Stable Minerals Improvement, offered this replace in a progress report unveiled lately in Lagos.
The initiative, initiated by Nigeria President on December 19, concerned the supply of free transportation on Nigerian Railway Company (NRC) routes.
Moreover, the President sanctioned a 50% subsidy on transportation fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes serviced by bus operators beneath the Affiliation of Luxurious Bus House owners of Nigeria (ALBON).
Assessing the general efficiency of the programme, Alake emphasised its appreciable success.
He highlighted that the transportation rebate represented Nigeria President’s care and consideration for the welfare of Nigerians, showcasing the president’s deep regard for the residents.
“Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures obtainable present that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, whereas buses working beneath the auspices of ALBON carried 77,122 passengers.
“Additionally, 652 bus journeys originating from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766. This implies no fewer than 163,878 passengers benefited from the Presidential Yuletide Transportation Subsidy within the first 10 days of the programme.
“Secondly, whereas train-bound passengers loved whole free service, street travellers paid solely 50 per cent of the fares.
“The subsidies relied on the fares, starting from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja street journey fare of N43,000 to N15,000 on a Lagos-Onisha bus fare of N30,000,” he stated.
Alake stated the programme was an illustration of the President’s empathy and love for fellow Nigerians who had been culturally and emotionally dedicated to travelling to their hometowns on the finish of the yr.
The minister stated the programme was additionally aimed toward easing the monetary burden of the residents, who he stated had been going through some financial challenges because of the international pandemic and different inside components.
He added that the committee took some remedial measures to handle some recognized gaps within the execution of the programme, akin to including two extra routes and interesting different bus-owning stakeholders.
Alake stated the committee additionally engaged the Nationwide Union of Highway Transport Staff (NURTW), the state-owned transport firms, and the Non-public Transport Operators Affiliation (PTONA), in addition to collaborated and sensitised Nigerians by way of media platforms.
The minister sought the cooperation of the passengers and the bus firms to handle the return of passengers from their places to their bases till Thursday, January 4, because the programme was nonetheless ongoing.
He stated the Yuletide transportation programme sought to satisfy the plenty of Nigerians at their factors of want.
On the association for the return leg of the journey by prepare travellers, Alake urged them to provoke their return journey as early as doable to safe seats on the coaches and buses.
Alake additionally urged the bus firms to reveal religion, integrity, and patriotism by making use of the 50 per cent subsidy and making sufficient automobiles obtainable.
The minister added that the committee would proceed to observe compliance and intervene at any time when and wherever mandatory.
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