Mr Alake stated the programme was an indication of the president’s empathy and love for the Nigerian individuals, who’re culturally and emotionally dedicated to travelling to their hometowns on the finish of the 12 months.
The Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the Finish of Yr Transportation Subsidy Programme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dele Alake, has described the programme as an enormous success, saying that it has benefited over 160,000 passengers throughout the nation.
Mr Alake, who can also be the minister of stable minerals growth, made this recognized in a progress report on Monday, 1 January.
Mr Alake stated the programme, which was authorized by President Tinubu on 19 December 2023, supplied free transportation on the routes of the Nigerian Railway Company (NRC) and a 50 per cent subsidy on transport fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes serviced by bus operators beneath the umbrella affiliation, the Affiliation of Luxurious Bus Homeowners of Nigeria (ALBON).
He additionally added that the programme was an indication of the president’s empathy and love for the Nigerian individuals, who’re culturally and emotionally dedicated to travelling to their hometowns on the finish of the 12 months.
In keeping with him, the programme was additionally aimed toward easing the monetary burden of the residents, who’re going through some financial challenges as a result of international pandemic and different inside components.
He stated the committee took some remedial measures to deal with some recognized gaps within the execution of the programme, equivalent to including two extra routes, participating different bus-owning stakeholders, such because the Nationwide Union of Highway Transport Staff, NURTW, the State-owned Transport Corporations, and the Personal Transport Operators Affiliation, PTONA, and collaborating and sensitising Nigerians by the press and different media platforms.
Additionally, he stated the programme recorded spectacular outcomes, as between 21 December and 31 December 2023, the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, whereas buses working beneath the auspices of ALBON carried 77, 122 passengers.
The minister, within the report, additionally revealed that 652 “bus journeys originating travels” from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.
“Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures accessible present that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, whereas buses working beneath the auspices of ALBON carried 77, 122 passengers, and 652 bus journeys originating travels from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766. This implies no fewer than 163, 878 passengers benefitted from the Presidential Yuletide Transportation Subsidy within the first 10 days of the programme.
“Secondly, whereas train-bound passengers loved complete free service, street travellers paid solely 50 per cent of the fares. The subsidies trusted the fares starting from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja street journey fare of N43,000 and N15,000 on a Lagos -Onisha bus fare of N30,000,” Mr Alake stated within the report.
He appealed for cooperation from the passengers and the bus firms to handle the return of passengers from their respective places again to their bases until Thursday, January 4, 2024, because the programme continues to be ongoing.
On the general evaluation of the scheme up to now, Mr Alake enthused that it has been an enormous success, emphasising that the transportation rebate was an indication of the extent of affection President Tinubu has for Nigerians.
“The programme has been an enormous success. It’s a vivid expression of the resonant management pushed by emotional intelligence. The yuletide transportation programme sought to fulfill the mass of Nigerians at their level of want,” stated the minister.
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On the association for the return leg of the journey by travellers, Mr Alake additionally urged them to provoke their return journey as early as attainable to safe seats on the coaches and buses and appealed to all of the bus firms concerned to reveal religion, integrity and patriotism by making use of the 50 per cent subsidy and making sufficient autos accessible.
The minister added that the committee would proceed to watch compliance and intervene each time and wherever vital, and guaranteed that the suitable authorities safety businesses have been correctly briefed to make sure the free embarkation and disembarkation of passengers on the parks.
Kehinde Bamigbetan
Particular Adviser to the Minister of Strong Minerals
January 1, 2024
