In a bid to ease travel costs this festive season, President Bola Tinubu has approved a 50 percent reduction in road transport fares and free train rides for Nigerians traveling for Christmas and New Year celebrations from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, announced this on Wednesday at the Aso Rock Villa.
Alake said the fare subsidies will apply to interstate vehicles taking passengers to their home states and towns for the festive period.
He explained that the Ministry of Transportation will collaborate with transport unions and the Railway Corporation to implement the initiative nationwide, adding that air transportation is not part of the arrangement because the target of the president “is the masses.”
The free train rides will be available on all classes of trains run by the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The government expects that the transport reliefs will ease financial burdens on Nigerians traveling for Christmas to reconnect with family and loved ones
Minister Alake urged the public to celebrate responsibly and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on behalf of President Tinubu.