By Kamsi Anayo
The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 poll, Peter Obi has expressed optimism about President Tinubu’s announcement of a 50% discount on interstate transport fares for the festive season.
However, he raised concerns about the policy’s implementation and sustainability.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved a 50 per cent slash in the price of interstate transport fare for Nigerians travelling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
The President also approved free rides for commuters on all train services within the period.
In a statement released on Thursday, Obi acknowledged the “step in the right direction” but questioned the lack of a long-term plan to address the underlying issue of high transportation costs.
He pointed out that millions who had already travelled before the announcement bear the brunt of the original fares, leaving them uncompensated.
“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?” He asked
He further raised doubts about the policy’s rollout, claiming investigations in major transport hubs across the country revealed widespread unawareness among operators.
“In Abuja, Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, and other cities, transporters are completely in the dark about this 50% discount,” Obi said.
“The announced list of participating companies and routes also raises concerns about transparency and potential for abuse.”
Obi urged the government to avoid “mere spin” and implement the policy with clear guidelines and safeguards.
“The Nigerian people deserve more than temporary fixes,” he asserted.
“Compassion is crucial, but it should not be used to exploit weak governance structures and encourage opaque policymaking.”
The full statement:
I read the reports of the President’s approval of a 50 percent slash in the price of interstate transport fare for Nigerians travelling 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 fare for Nigerians, I have taken time to inquire into the implementation mechanics across different cities but I have been disappointed.
Today, I sent out contacts who consulted widely with the transporters in major parks across the country: in Abuja they carried out on the spot investigation in Jabi/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.
There are obvious questions on the integrity of this intervention effort. One expects that such a policy that strives to appeal to the broad masses, especially the downtrodden, deliberate and concrete arrangements should be made, with transport companies.
I pray that this is not yet another spin to curry favour 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.
