By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved a 50 per cent slash in the price of interstate transport fare for Nigerians travelling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to Thursday, January 4, 2024.
He also approved free rides for commuters on all train services within the period.
The information was announced by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, to State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday. Mr Alake was formerly the Special Adviser on Information to Mr Tinubu before elevating him to the ministerial post.
Mr Alake said, “It is in this wise that the President is announcing through us that beginning from tomorrow, December 21, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via mini buses, luxury buses at 50 per cent discount of current cost and all our train services on the route the trains currently serve at zero cost on their travels this holiday season.
“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow, Thursday, December 21 and it will end on January 4, 2024.
“The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, will be working with transporters, road transport unions, and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.”
Mr Alake added that, “I can tell you that all the relevant stakeholders in that industry have been discussed with or been engaged and all the parameters laid out and the Minister of Transportation has the full details and it’s on top of the game.
“In fact, the Presidents of the various transport unions have been met…and everything is in top shape in terms of execution.”
However, Mr Alake said air travel was excluded from the initiative because it is targeted at the masses.
“The initiative is for the masses. Air is a luxury. The masses don’t use air transport. So they are our main target,” he explained.
Aduragbemi Omiyale 
Modupe Gbadeyanka