Victor Ezeja and Emmanuel OchayiNigerians have called on the Federal Government to implement sustainable economic reforms to tackle high inflation and hardship across the country not offering them palliatives.
They spoke in reaction to the recent decision of the Federal Government to cut bus transport fare by 50 per cent and free train ride for Nigerians who wish to travel during the Yuletide season.
According to the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who announced it in Abuja, the slash in fare for Nigerians travelling during this holiday, starts on December 21 (today) and end on 4 January 2024.
READ ALSO: Yuletide: Presidency Lists Companies Partnering In Transportation Cost Cut [See Routes]
Alake also said the president directed that commuters on all train services be granted 100 per cent free trips along the Kaduna-Abuja, Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe routes during the period.
The gesture is to cushion the effect of high transportation cost on Nigerians occasioned by hike in price of petrol due to subsidy removal, especially during this festive period.
Prior to the announcement transport fare had spiked ahead of the Christmas season.
Initially, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, mentioned that five participating transport companies in the scheme are: God is Good (GIG), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor.
However, a statement by the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), confirming that its members have commenced the implementation of the 50 per cent rebate, indicated that they are 11 operators with the addition of Izuchukwu Transport Nig. Ltd, ABC Transport Plc, SD Express Ltd, Welfare Transport Nig. Ltd, Ifesinachi Transport Nig. Ltd, E Ekeson Nig. Ltd., Ifeanyi Chukwu Industries & Commercial Ltd, Bonnyway Motor Ltd., and Delta Express Ltd.
The routes listed include: Lagos-Kano; Onisha-Abuja; Lagos-Abuja; Onisha-Sokoto; Lagos-Kaduda-Zaria; Onisha-Gombe; Lagos-Jos; Onisha- Zakibiam; Lagos-Enugu; Ph-Owerri-Aba-Kano; Lagos-Onisha; Aba-Owerri-Abuja; Lagos Owerri; Aba-Lagos; Lagos-Aba; Abuja-Gombe; Lagos-Abakaliki; Abuja-Lagos; Lagos-Nsukka; Abuja-Enugu,Abakaliki; Lagos-Uyo; Abuja-Onisha-Aba; Lagos-PH; Abuja-PH.
Others are Onisha-Kano; Abuja-Kano; Onisha-Lagos; Abuja-Sokoto; Onisha-Jos; Abuja-Maiduguri.
Elated by the Federal Government’s announcement, many Nigerians travelers who trooped out to motor parks few days after to benefit from the discount were disappointed as they boarded buses at the old prices.
Prime Business Africa correspondents on Saturday, visited some motor parks of companies participating in the scheme in Lagos to ascertain the level of implementation of the scheme and found that most of the companies have started it though not exactly 50 percent discount.
In an interview with Prime Business Africa, Paul Okafor, Fleet Operations Manager, Ekeson Motors, the company started slashing bus fare for passengers on Friday evening, when the management to do so.
“The fare depends on the route. We are currently collecting N23,000 for Lagos (luxury bus) but if this arrangement didn’t come on board, it would have been N43,000 for Lagos to Abuja; then the Eastern part of the country we had N33,000 to N34,000 sometimes. That’s for luxury buses,” Okafor said.
Okafor added that the company has recorded high turn of passengers since it started implementing the discount.
However, some customers said they didn’t get the 50 per cent.
A passenger at Ekeson, who identified himself as Osagie, said he paid the full rate at the ticketing booth. According to him, those who booked online paid 50 per cent but he could not and was made to pay in full. Osagie who showed Prime Business Africa correspondents his ticket to prove his claim, described the gesture by the Federal Government as “a mere political gimmick” with no concrete action to benefit the citizens well.
“I paid N33,000 for Lagos to Abuja against the N26,750. Those that used online payment were able to pay N26,750 today (Saturday), but I was unable to used the online platform to make payment. I paid directly through POS and they collected N33,500,” Osagie said.
He advised that if the government wants to do it well, it should bring out vehicles not engaging private transport companies.
According to him, the government would be able to monitor it well and ensure full implementation.
“Having a collaboration with all these transport companies, without monitoring them, I don’t think it will work.”
He noted that the government needed to increase awareness about the scheme so that more Nigerians can benefit from it, adding that there should be a way to ensure that those who are unable to pay online are accommodated.
Another passenger at the bus station in Jibowu, Lagos, said the palliative is not going to reach many people and urged the government to create measures to fix the roads, electricity, tackle inflation, and insecurity ravaging the country.
“I think this not going to be sustainable as it is only for the festive season. Generally, there are two things we are getting wrong. Once we have our roads and electricity stable, the inflation rate would be reduced. This palliative is not going to cut across. To me, they need to fix three things: the insecurity, roads and electricity and a lot of things would fall back to shape,” Adebayo Bamidele who was travelling from Lagos to Abuja said.
Some workers at Young Shall Grow Motors, who didn’t want to be named said transporters can only effectively implement the Federal Government’s decision if they were adequately mobilised.
They said all the government needed to do was reduce the price of diesel and petrol so that transport fare would also reduce and not asking them to slash prices without being mobilised for that.
Prime Business Africa checks at GUO Motors revealed that as at Saturday, December 23, they were collecting the full price for all routes but refund passengers the 50 percent rebate at the point of departure from the terminals.
One of the passengers who arrived Lagos from Abuja on Saturday morning confirmed to Prime Business Africa that he was refunded 50 percent of the total money paid for the trip.
Assistant Manager God Bless Ezenwata Motors, Jibowu branch, Kelechi Uwa, said they were charging between N23,000 and N25,000 for a trip from Lagos to Onitsha and Owerri, but with the cut, they now charge around N14,000.
Mr Uwa, who commended the government for offering the citizens the transport palliative, stressed the need for measures to bolster the economy to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.
“Government needs to diversify the economy and make every sector productive,” Uwa said.
While passengers who get the trsnsport fare rebate rejoice many travellers in this festive season who use other transport companies not approved by the federal government for the discount are made to bear the brunt of full cost.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
Follow Us