The FG had announced a 50% reduction in transportation costs along 22 interstate routes during the festive period on Wednesday.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, who chaired the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention. He briefed State House correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Additionally, the spokesperson for the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Segun Falade, confirmed the union’s intention to implement the fare subsidy on Thursday.
In response to this development, Peter Obi took to his X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday to express his approval of the intervention aimed at assisting the masses, highlighting it as a step in the right direction.
However, the former Anambra State governor also voiced concerns regarding the lack of checks and balances to ensure compliance. He conducted his investigation at major parks across the country and found that transporters were not adhering to the terms of the contract.
He expressed, “If fully implemented, as reported, I consider this first-time intervention of the government, intended to help the masses, a step in the right direction.”
“However, the major concern about such emergency measures is what follows afterwards. The high cost of transportation and associated hardships are all well known.”
Furthermore, he shared his disappointment that such a significant initiative could be deliberately hijacked to further exacerbate the plight of the masses.
He also called upon the FG to address the alleged manipulation and clarify that its 50% intervention wasn’t merely a deceptive move to mislead Nigerians.
Additionally, the Presidency confirmed on Friday that the Federal Government had expanded its special discounted holiday season fare on road transports by adding two routes, bringing the total to 30 routes nationwide.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy and a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention, disclosed this information. He explained that the first list of routes was perceived to have favored only a section of the country, leading to the addition of more routes.
Furthermore, commuters traveling from Lagos to Akure, the Ondo State capital, and Lagos to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, were included in the 50% fare reduction scheme.
These routes are operated by the National Union of Road Transport Workers from the Oshodi bus terminal in Lagos State.
Observations from NewsNow revealed that commuters were now paying the halved fee of N3,250 instead of the regular N6,500 per head.
