The Federal Government said all is ready for its 50 per cent-subsidised travel plans for Nigerians for the Yuletide.
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 per cent discount on road transport on 22 major routes across the country, starting from December 21, 2023, have been concluded.
In a press briefing alongside the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris and Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Alake emphasised that the intervention aims to reduce the cost of inter-state road transport by 50 per cent, with free railway commuting from December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
After a follow-up meeting with the ministers of Interior and Transportation, Alake reiterated that all was set for the effective implementation of the initiative, focused on easing the burden of high transport costs for Nigerians during the festive season.
Alkali revealed that the Federal Government would utilise the Structured Luxury Buses Association of Nigeria to operate discounted fares on the 22 routes across the country. Implementation is scheduled to commence on Thursday, December 21, 2023, with the specified routes to be announced shortly.
On securing mining sites, the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Ojo highlighted the significant role the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) would play in the new security architecture, emphasising unwavering collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in this regard.
