‘6,000 passengers, 700 vehicles benefitted from FG’s 50% transport subsidy in 14 days’

Commuters seek extension of 50% fare reduction till January 7

In just about 14 days, Oshodi Terminal Interchange (OTI) has witnessed a surge in activity, with 6,000 passengers and 700 vehicles reaping the benefits of the Federal Government’s 50 per cent transport subsidy.

Managing Director of OTI Planet Projects, Biodun Otunola, who disclosed this, yesterday, said that from inception, the terminal had witnessed 6,000 passengers with over 700 vehicles higher than the usual figure before the 50 per cent slash.

He said that if the programme continues in the coming years, there would be increased awareness, communication, information dissemination, and a greater involvement of stakeholders.

Otunola, who commended the Federal Government’s initiative, said: “For the first time, people were being refunded as high as N15,000 and they were shocked to receive such during a time that is not election period.”

Meanwhile, commuters at the Oshodi Transport Interchange and other accredited parks in Lagos State have begged President Bola Tinubu to extend the 50 per cent fare reduction on inter-state road transport services till January 7, 2024.

In separate interviews with journalists, yesterday, the commuters commended the Federal Government for granting a rebate of 50 per cent on fare tickets to passengers travelling to different destinations across all states of the federation.

Specifically, they lamented that thousands of people that travelled homes during the festive period had not fully returned to their cities or states of residence, thus urging the Federal Government to extend its fare reduction scheme to January 7.