Yuletide transport subsidy: Abuja records 70 per cent compliance

Mixed grill has continued to trail the 50 per cent transport fare subsidy proposed by the Federal Government at Yuletide, as passengers have different stories to tell.

President Bola Tinubu’s administration had, on December 20, 2023, revealed the companies that would be participating in the 50 per cent slash of inter-state transport fares.

According to 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, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata and Area Motor.

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

However, The Guardian checks, yesterday, revealed that the reduction recorded 70 per cent compliance in Abuja. While some companies were partially complying by slashing fares, some were not.

When this reporter visited GUO Transport, Utako Abuja terminal, the Manager, Uchenna Udoka, stated that they were complying with the Federal Government price slash.

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

He added: “The passengers are very happy; whenever 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 Chief Executive Officer (CEO). For now, they have not asked us to stop; but give or take, from now till December 31, for people travelling from here.”

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

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

One of the workers in ABC stated that they charged N40,450 from Abuja to Owerri, adding that the half price only applied to those going to Lagos from Abuja.

A passenger, who pleaded anonymity stated that he paid N38,000) to GIG from Abuja to Asaba. Another, Ify Nwankwo, said she paid N40,000 to ABC from Abuja to Owerri.

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.