Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the recently past presidential election, has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s 50% transport fare slash for the Yuletide season.
Calling the initiative “a step in the right direction,” Obi acknowledged that the initiative will help the poor and downtrodden amid the rising cost of living experienced in society.
Chronicle NG reports that Tinubu authorized a 50% reduction in interstate transport fares for Nigerians traveling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024, on Wednesday.
The president also authorized free interstate train travel within the period nationwide.
Reacting to the president’s directives, Obi, in a statement on his verified X handle, expressed concerns over the implementation of the policy.
His statement reads, “I read the reports of the President’s approval of a 50 percent slash in the price of interstate transport fares for Nigerians traveling during this Yuletide from Thursday 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
“The news reports added that the President also approved free rides for commuters on all train services within the period. If fully implemented, as reported, I consider this first-time intervention of the government, intended to help the masses, a step in the right direction.
“However, the major concern about such emergency measures is what follows afterwards. The high cost of transportation and associated hardships are all well known.
“The question this seasonal palliative raises is that of what happens after the festive season.
“Is there a sustainable policy measure to cushion the masses from the current high transportation costs? Even the current effort comes with operational challenges.
“Millions of people have already traveled, bearing the brunt and huge costs of such travels. How will such people get their refunds or be compensated?
“Following the government’s announcement of a 50% discount on interstate transport fares for Nigerians, I have taken time to inquire into the implementation mechanics across different cities, but I have been disappointed.”
Obi also noted that his investigative team reported that “none of the transporters” in the parks his team visited were “aware of this 50% discount.”
“Today, I sent out contacts who consulted widely with the transporters in major parks across the country,” Obi noted. “In Abuja, they carried out on-the-spot investigations in Jabi and Utako areas; in Lagos, they visited major parks like Jibowu, Festac, Mile 12, Ajah, and Mazamaza, and none of the transporters in these parks was aware of this 50% discount.
“At Upper Iweka, Onitsha, which is the main traffic hub in Anambra, and in other parts of the country like Kano, Aba, Kaduna, Owerri, and Gombe, the story is the same.
“The government has again announced the few transport companies chosen to participate in the intervention, for which 28 routes have been designated. There are no announced forms of checks and balances to ensure that the transporters follow the terms of the contract,” he added.
Obi, who prayed that the announcement of the transport fare slash by the president “is not yet another spin to curry favor in the media space,” urged the presidency to implement the policy to yield desired results.
“There are obvious questions about the integrity of this intervention effort. One expects that such a policy that strives to appeal to the broad masses, especially the downtrodden, should be made with transport companies.
“I pray that this is not yet another spin to curry favor in the media space after appetizing the people.
“The Nigerian people are going through untold hardship, and the government must not remain insensitive to their sufferings.
“Compassion on the part of government is a good thing, but it should not be an avenue for exploiting the weak structures of government to encourage less than transparent policy implementation,” Obi added.
