The Committee on the Implementation of the End-of-Year Transportation Subsidy Programme of President Bola Tinubu, Dr. Dele Alake, has said over 160,000 passengers have so far benefited from the programme.
Alake, who is also the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, announced this in a progress report yesterday in Lagos.
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UNITY TIMES had reported that President Tinubu, on December 19, approved free transportation on Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) routes.
The President also approved a 50 percent subsidy on transportation fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes serviced by bus operators under the umbrella association, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON).
On the overall assessment of the scheme so far, Alake said it had been a huge success, stressing that the transportation rebate was a demonstration of the level of love the President has for Nigerians.
“Between December 21 and December 31, 2023, figures available show that the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77,122 passengers.
“Also, 652 bus trips originating from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766. This means no fewer than 163,878 passengers benefited from the Presidential Yuletide Transportation Subsidy in the first 10 days of the programme.
“Secondly, while train-bound passengers enjoyed total free service, road travelers paid only 50 percent of the fares.
“The subsidies depended on the fares, ranging from a saving of N21,500 on a Lagos-Abuja road trip fare of N43,000 and N15,000 on a Lagos-Onisha bus fare of N30,000,” he said.