FG Rolls Out 708 Vehicles, Slashes Fares by 50%
The proposed 50 per cent interstate transport fare price slash by the Federal Government will commence today (Tuesday).
Travellers from Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and Port Harcourt, Kaduna, among others, are to benefit from the scheme, according to the Federal Government.
Recall that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation last Thursday announced that it had agreed with stakeholders in the road transport sector to support Nigerians who would be travelling during the Yuletide.
The government said it would pay 50 per cent of the road travellers fare, as it also commenced free rail transportation for citizens on December 20, 2024.
Economic Confidential had reported how the commencement of the scheme was hindered since December 20, 2024, due to funding challenges from the Ministry of Finance.
This initiative, according to a Memorandum of Understanding, will be executed in partnership with key transport stakeholders, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Association of Luxurious Bus Owners of Nigeria, among others.
Economic Confidential gathered that the ministry plans to commence the operation with 144 routes from Abuja and Lagos to all state capitals except Anambra, which will be in Onitsha, with 708 vehicles. The road travel palliative will run from December 24, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
While God is Good got four routes, Association of Luxurious Bus Owners of Nigeria got 32 routes. The Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owner got three routes; NURTW, 22 routes; and RTEAN got 12 routes.
A statement from the Head of Press of the Ministry of Transport, Olujimi Oyeyemi, stated that the ministry had directed the leadership of Road Transportation Unions – Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, National Union of Road Transport Workers, God is Good Motors and Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria to ensure that their palliative buses were moved to the designated loading points early on December 24, 2024.
The buses are “to begin moving Nigerians who seek to take advantage of the transport palliative during the Yuletide.”
According to the statement, the Minister of Transport l, Said Alkali, expressed regrets that the scheme was taking off late, stating that the delay was due to some logistic issues, which had been largely sorted.
“Nigerians who intend to use this scheme from Abuja will take off from Eagle Square by 6.00 a.m., while those who are taking off from Lagos are to use Oshodi Terminal 3 for those going Northern routes, and Oshodi Terminal 2 for those going Southern routes. The time for daily take-off is 6:00 a.m.
However, some of the participating luxury buses will take off between 6:00 am – 7:00 p.m. daily from Oshodi, Lagos.
“Passengers intending to take advantage of the Yuletide Road Transportation Palliative should note that they will be required to pay 50 per cent of the cost that they will otherwise pay.
“Kicking off on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, and running till Sunday, January 5, 2025, means that the scheme will last for 13 days,” Alkali stated.
Meanwhile, Economic Confidential gathered that not all partners would begin operations simultaneously.
When contacted, the Chief Executive Officer of God is Good Motors, Enahoro Ekhae, said his company will start the operation on Tuesday, adding that passengers who are willing to travel via GIGM motors have an advantage of booking online through their app.
He also said their buses which will be used for the palliative operations will be moved to the Osodi terminal in Lagos while for Abuja they will be operating from the eagles square.
