The Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the End of Year Transportation Subsidy Programme of President Bola Tinubu, Dele Alake, has described the programme as a huge success, saying that it has benefited over 160,000 passengers across the country.
Alake, who doubles as minister of solid minerals development, made this known in a progress report on Monday, January 1, 2024.
According to Alake, the programme, which was approved by President Tinubu on 19 December 2023, provided free transportation on the routes of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and a 50% subsidy on transport fares for passengers travelling on 30 routes serviced by bus operators under the umbrella association, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON).
He said the programme recorded impressive results, as between December 21 and 31, 2023, the NRC conveyed 71,000 passengers, while buses operating under the auspices of ALBON carried 77, 122 passengers.
The minister, in the report, also revealed that 652 “bus trips originating travels” from Oshodi Interchange in Lagos carried 15,766.
Alake said the programme was a demonstration of the president’s empathy and love for the Nigerian people, who are culturally and emotionally committed to travelling to their hometowns at the end of the year.
