In a bid to ease the financial burden on Nigerians during the festive season, the President Bola Tinubu-led government has announced a 50% reduction in interstate transport fares for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
This decision aims to make travel more affordable for Nigerians as they return home to celebrate the Yuletide with their families.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Transportation, Olujimi Oyetomi, in a statement released to the public. The initiative is part of a broader government effort to provide transportation relief during the busy festive period.
The statement read, “To commence the 2024 Yuletide road transportation, passengers will board buses to their destinations for only 50% of fares, as declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The move, spearheaded by President Tinubu, is intended to make travel more accessible and affordable for Nigerians, especially as many people journey to their hometowns for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Transport Stakeholders Sign Agreement for Implementation
The initiative was formalized in a signing ceremony led by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Adeleye Adeoye. An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed between the Federal Government and key transport stakeholders, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Association of Luxurious Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), and God is Good Motors.
Under the terms of the agreement, passengers traveling from major transport hubs, including Abuja and Lagos (Oshodi), will benefit from the reduced fares. The fare reduction will apply to journeys across various routes, making travel more affordable for Nigerians heading home to celebrate the festive season.
This initiative is expected to provide a much-needed financial respite for families traveling across the country, particularly during the holiday season when travel demand is high. It reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to cushion the effects of rising living costs and improve transportation accessibility for Nigerians.
