128 Northerners Benefit From Tinubu’s Transport Palliative On Christmas Day

President Bola Tinubu’s directive to provide a 50% discount on transport fares for Nigerians during the yuletide season was implemented smoothly on Christmas day, as 128 north-bound travellers from Abuja received fare subsidies.

The passengers, heading to destinations in Gombe, Bauchi, Yola and Maiduguri, paid only half of the regular transport fares thanks to the presidential relief programme being overseen by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMT).

The FMT’s Situation Room Monitoring Team reported a seamless rollout of the initiative on December 25th.

The refunds were personally administered by the Chairman of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners (ALBON), Clement Okuefuna, who was on ground at Area 1 Motor Park where most of the north-bound buses departed.

With limited luxury bus capacity servicing routes to the north, ALBON partnered with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to provide smaller 16-seater vehicles for the routes.

Beginning at 5AM, passengers were loaded onto buses, issued 50% cash reimbursements, and sent safely on their way to destinations across the north. In all, eight fully-loaded 16-seater buses carrying 128 relieved Nigerians departed Abuja on Christmas day.

The transport fare relief was warmly received, evidenced by cheers of “Jagaban, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 4 plus 4” from the travellers.

While apolitical in nature, the Christmas palliative from President Tinubu helped renew hope among citizens for a better Nigeria in 2023 and beyond.