FG to provide subsidised luxury buses to Nigerians ahead of yuletide period

The Federal Government has announced plans to subsidise all luxury buses for ease of transportation for citizens willing to travel ahead of the festive holidays.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by Dele Alake who is chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on the Presidential Intervention on Public Transportation and Minister of Mines and Steel.

Alake announced that the FG will cover 50 per cent of the cost of inter-state travels for its citizens.

He said the scheme will be effective from December 21 to January 4, covering at least 22 routes across the nation.

He said the scheme is in collaboration with road transport unions, NURTW, and others.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at facilitating the Christmas and end of year celebrations and is a demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s love for Nigerians.

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, the Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.”

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, Alake said air iravel was excluded from the initiative because the initiative is targeted at the masses.

“The initiative is for the masses. Air is luxury. The masses don’t use air transport. So they are our main target,” he explained.