FG 50% fare slash: Abuja records 70% compliance

Discordant compliance has continued to trail the 50 percent fare reduction proposed by the Federal Government as passengers have different stories to tell.

The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on 20th December, revealed companies that will be participating in the 50 per cent slash of inter-state transport fares.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the five participating transport companies in the scheme are: GIG (God is Good), Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor.

The Presidency also posted a document showing 28 routes the buses will run.

However, the Guardian checks, Thursday, 28th December, revealed that the reduction recorded 70 percent compliance in Abuja.

While some companies are partially complying by slashing prices for some passengers plying some routes, some are not complying at all.

When our correspondent visited GUO transport, Utako Abuja terminal, the manager, Mr Uchenna Udoka, stated that they are complying to the federal government 50 % price slash.

Mr Uche confirmed that only only buses heading to Owerri, Enugu and Lagos observed the price slash for now, pending when they get another directive from the head office.

He said “The passengers are very happy, when ever we tell them that we have to refund half of their money, they will shout in joy.

“The discussion on reimbursement is actually with our CEO, I don’t know the major they agreed to with the government on reimbursement, my duty as a branch manager is to execute.

“For now they have not ask us to stop but give and take from now till 31st December for people traveling from here.”

A cashier in God is Good Motors, stated that today they refunded passengers going to Enugu, Owerri and Ajah Lagos. He informed that the whole exercise expected to continue till 4th January.

He said “for those preparing to come back, I don’t know how they are operating from Owerri and Onitsha, wether they will refund those coming back to Abuja, I guess you have to go there to confirm.”

One of the workers in ABC stated that Abuja to Owerri is Forty thousand Naira (#40, 450), he said that the half price only applies to those going to Lagos from Abuja.

He said “we only do the half price for passengers going to Lagos only. He informed that the route giving to ABC for the half price by federal government is Abuja to Lagos.

A passenger who wants to remain anonymous stated that he paid thirty eight thousand (#38000) to God is Good to convey him from Abuja to Asaba.

Another passenger Ify Nwankwo informed us that she paid ABC transport Forty thousand naira(#40000), to convey her from Abuja to Owerri.

A commuter, Lucky travelling from Mararaba, Abuja to Owerri, Imo State had this to say, ” The original fare was N32,300 but on getting here, they said the President has given us a 50% discount and they refunded it back to me. I just received my own alert. Long live the President, Long live Nigeria!

Impact stories also abound from train commuters along the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna routes. A twitter user @ayotem4real had tweeted, “Just got two free train tickets ( Lagos – Ibadan) for my son and mum. En route to the Babatunde Fashola station.T hank you, Mr. President”.

A passenger aboard the Idu train station in Abuja to Kaduna revealed that “For those who have validated their names, it’s a smooth ride from the Idu train station in Abuja”.

Another elderly commuter aboard the Idu train station to Kaduna, showered encomiums on the President.

“Thank God, the President has offered this free ride to us from Abuja to Kaduna and for others across the country. The President is now trying but some are trying to sabotage the system. They will not succeed. My prayer is that Nigeria will be better. When government is making efforts, it shall affect all Nigerians and I say thanks to government. They should keep it up.”

The routes specified by the government include Lagos-Kano, Lagos-Abuja, Lagos-Kaduna-Zaria, Lagos-Jos, Lagos-Enugu, Lagos-Onitsha, Lagos-Owerri, Lagos-Aba, Lagos-Abakaliki, Lagos-Nsukka, Lagos-Uyo, Lagos-Port-Harcourt, Onitsha-Kano, and Onitsha-Lagos.

Others are Onitsha-Jos, Onitsha-Abuja, Onitsha-Sokoto, Onitsha-Gombe, Onitsha-Zakibam, PH-Owerri-Aba-Kano, Aba-Owerri-Abuja, Aba-Lagos, Abuja-Sokoto, Abuja – Lagos, Abuja-Onitsha-Owerri-Port-Harcourt, Abuja-Enugu-Abakaliki, Abuja-Gombe and Abuja-Kano.