Nigerians who were looking forward to cheaper and easier travel during the festive season have been left frustrated and angry. The Federal Government had announced a 50% slash in inter-state transport fares and free train rides between December 21 and January 4, as part of its efforts to ease the economic hardship in the country. However, many passengers who stormed the various parks for the Yuletide holidays still paid a premium to their destination.

The Presidency had revealed the names of five transport companies that would participate in the scheme: GIG (God is Good), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor. It also posted a document showing 28 routes the buses would run, covering major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Onitsha.

But The Guardian checks yesterday showed that the 50% discount is yet to take off. GIG was still charging N50,500 to Onitsha, GUO Transport was collecting N48,000, Chisco Transport N49,000, while Ifesinachi Transport was charging N32,000 to Onitsha.

An employee of Chisco Transport said that they attended a meeting where the price slash was discussed, but they were yet to receive any financial help from the government to implement it. He said they were still collecting the full price until further notice.

A cashier in GIG said the half-price slash only took effect in their Lagos Ajah park, adding that other terminals would be announced in the coming days. There was no word from the four other firms in the initiative, as their poor online presence hampered compliance checks.

Free Train Rides Not Enough to Cushion the Effect

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), the government-owned agency mandated by the Presidency to provide free train rides for the next two weeks, has also lamented the cost of the intervention scheme. The Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, said they were yet to recover from the previous transportation waivers by the government and hoped the government would provide the resources to do it.

He said the government should provide fuel, cleaners, and security for the free service, as well as compensate the transport operators for the loss of revenue. He also said the free train rides would not be enough to cushion the effect of the high cost of living, as most Nigerians use road transportation.

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the government to ensure proper planning and coordination of the reduced and free transport initiative, to safeguard the transporters and the travelers. The Director-General of LCCI, Dr Chinyere Almona, said the initiative required meticulous planning and communication, and any logistical challenges could impact its effectiveness.

She also said the initiative had financial implications for the transport operators, and it was essential to ensure that it was economically viable for both parties. She called on all levels of government to contribute to more sustainable solutions, such as gas-fired and electric vehicles.

A Ray of Hope for a Better Future

The initiative by the Federal Government to slash transport fares and provide free train rides has been applauded by many Nigerians, who see it as a demonstration of commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the people during these trying times. The initiative is expected to ease the financial burden on Nigerians and encourage intra-country travel, as well as ensure safety measures during this period.

The initiative also shows the potential of leveraging the transport sector to power a sustainable, clean-energy future, as the country moves towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.