BREAKING: Christmas: Tinubu Approves 50% Transport Fare Cuts, Free Train Rides For All Nigerians

In a bid to ease travel costs this festive season, President Bola Tinubu has approved a 50 per cent reduction in road transport fares and free train rides for Nigerians travelling for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the announcement on Wednesday.

The fare subsidies will apply to interstate vehicles taking passengers to their home states and towns for the festive period. The free train rides will be available on all classes of trains run by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

The governement expects that the transport reliefs will ease financial burdens on Nigerians travelling for Christmas to reconnect with family and loved ones.

“President Tinubu says the Federal Government will bear 50% of the transport fares for interstate road travellers during Christmas and New Year. Train rides will be absolutely free. The policy takes effect from 21 December and ends 4 January 2024,” Onanuga said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake, told state house correspondents on Wednesday in Abuja that logistics for the Federal Government subsidized transport fare had been concluded.

‘’In the spirit of Christmas and the end of year festivities, President Bola Tinubu, in another demonstration of his love for Nigerians, has approved that the Federal Government should intervene to bring down the cost of public transportation.

‘’This is to allow our compatriots who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden imposed by the high cost of transport around this period.

‘’The President is well aware of the recent increase in cost of inter-state transportation and even for air travels.

‘’Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and end of year to be with families and friends and this has been the practice for ages.”

He explained that the reduction in transportation cost would begin from Thursday, until Jan. 4, 2024.

Alake added that the Federal Government would be working through the Ministry of Transportation to reach out to transporters, road transport unions, Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.

‘’It is in this wise that the Federal Government is announcing, beginning from Thursday, a special discounted holiday season fare on road transport and zero-fare by rail across Nigeria.

‘’What this means is that from Thursday, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via minibuses, luxury buses at 50% discount of current cost and all our train services on the routes the trains currently serve at zero cost to and fro on their travels this holiday season.’’

Alake said that the reduction would affect routes like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major inter-state transportation hubs.

According to him, President Tinubu has also directed the Police, Department of State Services, the military and other security agencies to collaborate to ensure safety of lives and property during the festive period.

‘’The Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu is working very hard to make sure Nigerians have a memorable and happy holiday season.

‘’The President has already directed the police, department of state services, the military and other security agencies to work collaboratively to ensure the holiday period is safe without any security breach in any part of the country.’’

Mr Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, also explained that the measure was not a one-off thing by the Federal Government.

‘’This is part of efforts President Bola Tinubu intends to be doing.

‘’It is not a one-off thing, and even though it is targeted at Christmas, the President would continue to review situations especially national holidays like this and see what kind of intervention can come going forward,’’ he said.

Alhaji Saidu Alkali, Minister of Transportation, disclosed that the Federal Government had already met with the leadership of the transport companies toward a successful and efficient reduction cost.

He said the ministry would maintain all the train routes in order to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed the maximum benefits of these special presidential intervention.