Ololade Adeyanju/
Nigerians will have free ride on railways and 50 percent discount on road transport across the country starting from December 21 till January 4, 2024, says Federal authorities today.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development and chairman of the Presidential inter-ministerial committee on subsidised yuletide Inter-state transport, Dr. Dele Alake assured Nigerians that logistics for the 50 percent discount on road transport on 22 major routes across the country from 21st December 2023 has been finalised.
Dr. Alake in the company of Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali; Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga announced today a Presidential intervention to reduce the cost of inter-state road transport by 50 percent while commuting on railways will be free from 21st December 2023 to 4th January, 2024.
Addressing reporters after a follow up meeting, alongside the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Ojo and his Transportation counterpart, Alake reiterated that all was set for the effective implementation of the initiative which he emphasised is aimed at easing the burden of high cost of transport on Nigerians, this festive season.
In his remarks, Dr. Alkali revealed that the Federal Government is using the structured Luxury Buses Association of Nigeria to operate the discounted fares in the 22 routes, across the country, restating that implementation would commence on Thursday, while the specified routes would be announced, shortly.
On securing mining sites, the Interior Minister said that the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would play a significant role in the new security architecture in the works. He stressed that collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in that regard remained unflinching.
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