Leadnaija
The transportation palliative by the federal government is to be benefitted by 608,644 would-be travellers during the Yuletide.
To that end, government announced free train ride and 50 per cent cut in road transportation fare between yesterday and January 5…..CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
In an update, Transportation Minister Said Alkali, said government came up with the gesture to cushion the effect of the economic crunch on ordinary Nigerians.
According to the minister, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, which commenced the free train ride on December 20, would convey 320,000 passengers in 292 trips with 74 coaches.
He listed the train routes as Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS), Lagos Intra City Mass Transit (Lagos MTT), Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS), Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service (PH-ABA), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) MTT.
Kicking-off the 50 per cent slash in road transportation, Senator Alkali said 288,644 passengers would be conveyed to various parts of the country with 708 vehicles within the next 13 days.
According to him, officials of the Transportation and other stakeholders have been deployed in various parks to ensure transparency and compliance.
He said: “The Federal Government’s transport palliative initiative is expected to cushion economic hardship experienced by some Nigerians and to also ensure that they have a good travel experience during this Yuletide period.
“President Tinubu decided to start it on time so that Nigerians will enjoy the free ride even far ahead of the holidays, and he has approved and extended up to January 5 so that people will return to their respective destinations.
“We have also commenced 50 per cent road transport palliative today. The flashpoint is Lagos and Abuja, and we are going to cover Abuja to all the 36 states of the Federation, and also Lagos to all the 36 states of the Federation.
“The road will also last up to the January 5. It is discounted by 50 per cent, and this was approved in the wisdom of Mr. President to provide welfare for the citizens of this great country.
“For the entire period by road, we expect to carry 17,588 daily and 288,644 at the end of the exercise. So, for road and rail, it is estimated that 608,644 passengers would enjoy the transport palliative launched by the federal government.
“No passenger should pay any fare above 50 per cent of the normal transport fare. We have deployed all ministry staff, including the permanent secretary, to ensure transparency and accountability.”..CLICK TO READ THE FULL NEWS HERE▶▶
Alkali directed participating transport unions – Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), God is Good Motors (GIGM) and Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), to ensure that all palliative buses are moved to the designated loading points early to move passengers who seek to take advantage of the initiative to join their loved ones across the country for the Christmas and New Year.
