Travelers rejoice at 50% reduction on bus ticket prices
In a series of interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, travelers welcomed a recent move by the Nigerian government to offer a 50 per cent discount on bus ticket fares. This decision, announced by President Bola Tinubu, came into effect on December 24, 2023 and will be valid until January 4, 2024.
Dapo Esan, a lawyer, who booked a luxury bus trip from Abuja to Lagos with ABC Transport, welcomed the government initiative and expressed gratitude for the financial assistance. “Normally the fare is 35,000 Naira for a journey to Lagos. I paid only 17,500 Naira which is 50% of the normal fare. This is really a good thing for us. I already have my ticket and I “I’ve reserved my place,” he said.
This measure is seen as a promise kept by the Nigerian government, and travelers see it as a step in the right direction to alleviate the economic difficulties they face. Other travelers, like Sylverline Alakwem, a peace corps member serving in Abuja and heading to Owerri for the Christmas holidays, also expressed gratitude to the government for the fare reduction which eases the high cost of transportation for Nigerians. “At first I didn’t believe it was true. But when I went to the ABC Transport counter, they informed me that I was entitled to a discount. So I received half my money back in return. I am very grateful to the government. I will also inform my friends who wanted to travel but were discouraged due to high fares,” she said.
However, some transport companies do not yet offer this 50% discount to passengers, because the government has not yet established an agreement with them. The acting president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abuja said the government had promised to include the union in the arrangement but was yet to finalize the details. Similarly, Bonny Way company staff said they had not yet been informed by the government about their traveler discount policy.
Despite these few problems, travelers are grateful to the Nigerian government for this measure which eases their financial burden. They hope that this reduction will be maintained for the duration promised by the government. In conclusion, this government initiative shows effective collaboration between the private sector and government to provide relief to Nigerians facing economic hardship.