Yuletide Travels: Dissonant songs leave a mark on FG's interstate fare cuts

• Partial compliance by some carriers.
• NURTW withdraws and maintains regular fares
• People planning to commute are stranded.

There is confusion within the road transport industry over the federal government's announcement that it will cut fares by 50% on 22 interstate routes this Christmas season.

A Guardian investigation yesterday found that while some licensed carriers have begun implementing fare reductions, others are still operating outside of the president's directives. did. This was despite members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURWT), who had initially expressed support for the fare subsidy last Thursday, backtracking.

Meanwhile, residents of states not covered by the special agreement have expressed dissatisfaction with the development, pointing out that they too are Nigerians and should have been included.

The federal government announced last Wednesday that it would cut transportation costs on 22 interstate highways by 50% during the Christmas season.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Arake, who chairs the Inter-ministerial Committee on Presidential Intervention, disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

He said President Bola Tinubu had directed commuters on all rail services to ride free of charge from last Thursday until January 4, 2024.

Arake said Nigerians can travel interstate to any part of the country such as Abuja, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Ibadan, Akure, Maiduguri, Sokoto and other major interstate transport hubs. He added that he is thinking of embarking on a journey. Available at half price of last Thursday.

The government has announced that major transport companies, including God is Good Motors, Cisco Transport, The Young Shall Grow Motors, God Bless Ezenwata and Area Motors, and ordinary Nigerians wishing to travel for Christmas will announced that it had entered into an agreement to provide a 50 percent rebate.

However, when The Guardian visited some of the participating companies yesterday at a loading dock on Egbu Street in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the 50 per cent reduction in fares had not yet been implemented.

Sources from both companies told the Guardian: “Until we receive such instructions, we cannot reduce prices.”

Meanwhile, commuters are being charged between N28,000 and N30,000 by God Is Good (GIG), The Young Shall Grow, Chisco and God Bless Ezenwota from Owerri to Abuja to Lagos despite federal government benevolence. I was surprised.

A commuter heading to Abuja said he was charged N28,000. According to him, to show that the Federal Government is serious, fares need to be reduced by at least N15,000. ”

In Lagos, the Guardian's check showed that the price cuts had not yet been implemented, as most fares remained high, especially for trips to the East and South-South.

At Iyana Ipaja Park, God is Good Motors charged N41,100 from Lagos to Port Harcourt and Okason Motors charged N32,000 from Lagos to Owerri.

The Iyana-Ipaja Young Shall Grow bus service now costs N30,100 to Owerri from N27,100 charged a few days ago.

One passenger acknowledged the president's 50 percent reduction, but said many passengers had booked in advance and would be delayed in arriving.

“For example, many of us who were traveling on Friday had already paid N41,000 for 'God Is Good'. It used to be N20,000,” the passenger said.

According to him, “What we learned was that this only affected luxury buses. What about smaller cars? We still continue to pay the same amount.”

At Oshodi Interstate Park, luxury bus operators such as Bonnie Way Motors, Chimezie and Brothers, God Bless Ezenwata and Izu Chukwu are yet to reduce their prices.

For example, the fare from Lagos to Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Ihiala and Delta, which used to cost N16,200, is now N22,500, while the fare from Lagos to Port Harcourt on Chisco Island has increased from N19,200 to N25,200.

Yesterday in Jibou, Ekesons Bus was 26,500 Naira to Owerri and 30,500 Naira to Port Harcourt. Young Shall Grow's fare to Abakaliki and Enugu is N26,500 while the minibus to Owerri costs N42,300.

One carrier said: The government should bring down the cost of fuel and diesel before issuing directions to reduce prices. ”

Yesterday, I checked the God Is Good Motors website and found that all fares are 50% off, courtesy of the President's Travel Relief Initiative.

However, the Guardian's findings showed that the cuts were not yet effective across all stations in Lagos.

GIG explained through its X-page that Jibowu and Ajah in Lagos are the only terminals that have launched this initiative, adding that “other terminals will be announced in the coming days.”

Compliance checks on Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata and Area Motor were hampered by poor online presence from four other companies participating in the initiative. There was no communication.

Despite the high cost of transportation, passengers were seen flocking to the park to board buses to their destinations.

In Kano State, the implementation of the 50% reduction was only partially effective.

It was learned that God Bless Ezenwata, the only company in the state participating in the fare reduction agreement, was only giving a N7,000 discount to commuters. The Guardian confirmed that passengers traveling to Onitsha, Owerri, Aba and Port Harcourt who paid N30,000 were refunded N7,000.

The manager of the transport company in the state, Mr Ndubisi Ibe, said the branch had been instructed to reduce fares to the South East route to N7,000.

“Like everyone else, I heard about the 50 percent cut in the federal government on the news, but the instruction from management is that those who have already paid should be refunded 7,000 naira.”Friday It will start in January and will be completed by January.”

In Osun State, some residents, especially those traveling to other states for Christmas and New Year celebrations, have complained bitterly about missing out on a 50 per cent reduction in interstate transport fares by the Federal Government.

A Guardian inspection of major interstate motor parks operating in Osogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa revealed that transporters were not following government directives.

Some airlines maintained normal fares, while others raised fares by 5% due to the influx of travelers, mostly students returning home for the annual celebration.

Some carriers who are members of NURTW told the Guardian that they are not on the list of carriers or organizations eligible for the government's fare reduction programme.

A bus driver at Lagos Park in Aregbe area of ​​Osogbo, who identified himself simply as Sikiru, said:

“Transportation fares can only be reduced if the federal government lowers gas prices.”

Another bus driver at the Lagos-Ibadan Park in the Old Garage area of ​​Osogbo, who did not wish to be named, said that all drivers at the park receive information directly from the Federal Ministry of Transport and the NURTW leadership. He pointed out that he had not done so. .

Meanwhile, residents of the state seen at parks traveling to other states expressed frustration at not being able to benefit from the program.

A tourist who was spotted in a Lagos park and gave her name simply as Deborah said: In fact, the fare was slightly increased from 5,000 Naira to 5,500 Naira. I came here last week and took a bus for N5,000. Nowadays, N500 is added, probably because of last minute demand.

“It is not too late for President Tinubu to do something for Osun and other states that are missing out on this cut. There are still some days left until Christmas and New Year. I hope the Federal Government does well.” complained another traveler, Ibukun Ajebe.

Travelers in Kaduna State also lamented that the directive to reduce transport fares by 50 percent has not been fully implemented.

When The Guardian visited most of the motor parks located at TV Garage along Kachia Street, Kawo and Abuja Park at Command, passengers claimed that the car owners would collect the entire transport fare. I lamented.

David Omari, who boarded the Siena bus bound for Lagos, said at the command junction along Kachia Road, “I am surprised that the President has directed a 50 percent reduction in transport fares, but I urge drivers to collect the full N24.'' I'm making a claim,” he said. ,000. Other parks charge higher fees than this amount. Therefore, it can be said that the government's instructions were ignored. ”

Paul Asogwa, manager of Peacemas Transit in Kaduna, said the company was not party to the contract and was charging normal fares.

“We have not received any instructions from our headquarters to reduce shipping rates by 50 percent.

Government directives don't work here. We transport you at traditional rates depending on your destination.

“We charge 24,000 Naira from this park for passengers going to Lagos and 23,000 Naira for passengers going to Abia. Therefore, we collect the full amount from them.

“All these problems that Nigerians are facing are the result of the abolition of fuel subsidy. Unless the government reduces the pump price of fuel, the 50 per cent deduction on transport fares this Christmas season should work. do not have.

“We know it is not easy. Traveler occupancy is low and the government has asked for a 50% reduction in fares. We still buy fuel at N650 per liter. I need maintenance on my car because it takes 190 liters to go to Lagos. How will the government directive work? You tell me.”

Few of the transport companies visited by the Guardian in Calabar, Cross River State pretended they were not aware of the directive to reduce freight rates by 50 per cent.

Some companies described the initiative as another lie by the federal government, accusing the Tinubu administration of promising too much and underdelivering too much.

“Look at this bus. It is going to Aba. There are 13 passengers and the fare from Calabar to Aba is 6,000 Naira. How much is it? Over 80,000 Naira. We spend over 70,000 Naira on fuel alone. Maintenance and other things. What will the cost be? You know the roads are very bad. That's why it's not fun. Our business is in a tough spot. If the government wants to help us, they'll say no more. should stop,” said an interstate bus driver in Calabar.

Agbe Ekuma, a staff member of Calculus Transport company also said: However, there were no passengers at this time. Look at all these vehicles. They haven't left this place for days. If he can load two cases in one day, that's it for the day.

“This is all due to high gas prices and we have to charge you depending on how you buy your gas. So, to ensure that passengers don’t have to pay extra for their Christmas journey, transport companies If you're talking about giving money to someone, you should act quickly. So, sister, we don't know about that.”

Vincent Oyama, a passenger with the Onitsha South Transport Company, lamented the high cost of transport fares, saying, “There were rumors that the Federal Government would provide buses to different companies to make the fares cheaper, but now However, we have not done that.” And these shipping companies are exploiting us. You can't blame them for increasing the price of fuel pumps. ”

Source: guardian.ng