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. The PUNCH 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, the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, and the Association of Luxurious Bus Owners of Nigeria, among others.
The PUNCH 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.
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