Many Nigerians erstwhile elated by the Federal Government’s announcement of a 50 per cent slash in inter-state transport fares and free train rides between December 21 and January 4, were left disappointed yesterday as passengers, who stormed the various parks for Yuletide holidays, still paid premium to their destination.
As part of moves by the administration to address the high cost of living in the country, especially during the Yuletide, the Presidency on Wednesday revealed companies that will be participating in the 50 per cent slash of inter-state transport fares approved by President Bola Tinubu beginning from yesterday (December 21). The cost of transportation skyrocketed due to the removal of fuel subsidy in a country where the majority of the people use road transportation.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the five participating transport companies in the scheme are: GIG (God is Good), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor.
The Presidency also posted a document showing 28 routes the buses will run. They include Lagos-Kano, Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Kaduna-Zaria, Lagos-Jos, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Onitsha, Lagos-Owerri, Lagos-Aba, Lagos-Abakaliki, Lagos-Nsukka, Lagos-Uyo, Lagos-Port-Harcourt, Onitsha-Kano, and Onitsha-Lagos.
Others are Onitsha-Jos, Onitsha-Abuja, Onitsha-Sokoto, Onitsha-Gombe, Onitsha-Zakibam, PH-Owerri-Aba-Kano, Aba-Owerri-Abuja, Aba-Lagos, Abuja-Sokoto, Abuja – Lagos, Abuja-Onitsha-Owerri-Port-Harcourt, Abuja-Enugu-Abakaliki, Abuja-Gombe and Abuja-Kano.
But The Guardian checks yesterday revealed that the 50 per cent is yet to take-off. Yesterday, GIG was still charging N50,500 to Onitsha, GUO Transport was collecting N48,000, Chisco Transport N49,000, while Ifesinachi Transport was charging N32,000 to Onitsha.
An employee of Chisco Transport said that they were invited to a meeting where the price slash was discussed but they were yet to receive any financial help from the government in that regard.
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