Some passengers have called on President Bola Tinubu to extend the 50 per cent transport rebate deadline to enable Nigerians who travelled to various parts of the country for the Yuletide celebrations to return to their destinations.
This came as report states that over 6,000 passengers benefitted from the scheme at the Oshodi Transport Interchange in Lagos.
The Managing Director, Planet Projects, Abiodun Otunola, disclosed this in Lagos on Thursday.
Otunola, who was briefing the media at the closing events of the initiative, expressed delight that the programme had positively impacted many Nigerians, as evidenced by the surge in the number of travelers recorded during the period at the terminal.
Expressing his satisfaction at the positive impact of the program, Otunola highlighted the surge in the number of travelers at the terminal during the subsidy period.
President Bola Tinubu, had about four days before Christmas, approved a 50 per cent fare reduction on commercial buses operating inter-state routes
Furthermore, the Federal Government took additional steps to include the names of 20 new motor parks where Nigerians could also benefit from the 50 per cent rebate.
The subsidy period, which concluded on Thursday garnered widespread approval.
According to Otunola, the initiative launched on December 22 last year at the terminal, led to 35 per cent increase in passenger traffic at the terminal compared to the usual figures for the festive period.
He said, “We’ve been managing this terminal for the past five years, and for the first time, we are seeing over a 35 per cent increase compared to the number of passengers we would normally have recorded during the period. It only means Nigerians are taking advantage of the fact that there is a 50 per cent reduction in transport fares.
“As you know, transport is one of the pain points of fuel subsidy removal. Because of this laudable programme of the federal government, a lot of Nigerians have been trooping in the morning, afternoon, and evening to take advantage of the 50 per cent discount.
“From this terminal, we’ve handled over 6,000 passengers and close to 700 vehicles, which is far higher than what we normally have during the Christmas period,” he stated.
The PUNCH reported that the over 163,000 passengers benefited from the Federal Government subsidised inter-state trips for the end-of-the-year festive period.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on the Implementation of the End of Year Transportation Subsidy Programme of President Bola Tinubu, disclosed this in a progress report released on Monday.
Meanwhile, findings show some passengers at the Oshodi Transport Interchange and other accredited parks in Lagos State want 50 per cent transport fare rebate to be extended.
In separate interviews, commuters argued thousands of people, who travelled homes during the festive period, had not fully returned to their cities or states of residence.
As a result, they advised the President to extend its fare reduction scheme.
One of the commuters, Mr Kola Olakunle, while appreciating the president for the kind gesture, called on the Federal Government to extend.
Another passenger, Madam Iyabo Akintunde, said there was a need to extend the scheme by a week.
Another passenger, Ms. Mariam Ogundeji, told journalists at Terminal I, Oshodi Transport Interchange, said the scheme had impacted her life, pleading on the government to extend it.
