Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, lauded the Federal Government on Friday for contemplating a partnership with major transport companies to subsidize interstate fares for Nigerians by offering a 50% rebate during the Yuletide season.
The Federal Government had earlier announced a 50% reduction in transportation costs along 22 interstate routes during the festive period. Mr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development and chair of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention, made the announcement at the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja.
Segun Falade, the spokesperson for the National Union of Road Transport Workers, confirmed that the union would commence the implementation of the fare subsidy on Thursday.
Expressing his views on the matter through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi commended the intervention as a positive step towards assisting the masses. However, he expressed concerns about the lack of checks and balances to ensure compliance. Obi’s investigation revealed that transporters in major parks across the country were not following the terms of the contract.
In his tweet, Obi stated, “If fully implemented, as reported, I consider this first-time intervention of the government, intended to help the masses, a step in the right direction.” He highlighted the high cost of transportation and associated hardships, emphasizing the need for follow-up actions.
Obi further lamented that despite the good intentions, the initiative appeared to be deliberately hijacked, worsening the situation for the masses. He called on the Federal Government to address the alleged manipulation and clarify that the 50% intervention was not a mere deception.
In a related development, the Presidency confirmed that the Federal Government has added two routes to the special discounted holiday season fare on road transports, bringing the total to 30 routes nationwide. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that the additional routes were included to ensure a more equitable distribution across the country. The fare reduction scheme now covers routes from Lagos to Akure and Lagos to Ilorin, offering a 50% discount to commuters.