At least 128 passengers travelling by road to Gombe, Bauchi, Yola and Maiduguri in Nigeria’s northeastern region from Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Christmas Day, December 25 got a discount of 50% in fares paid following the implementation of President Bola Tinubu’s directive on discounted transport fares for Nigerians during the yuletide.
The passengers were freighted to their destinations paying half of the transport fares charged for their destinations as each got immediate reimbursement of 50% refund of fares paid upon boarding vehicles by the Chairman of the Association of Luxury Bus Owners (ALBON)’s Task Force on the implementation of the discount, Chief Clement Okuefuna, who conducted the disbursement in cash at the Area 1 Motor Park in Abuja from where most of the buses took off on Christmas day.
In a bid to boost the initiative, ALBON has facilitated a work arrangement with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, to service the routes since the routes to the north were mostly serviced by low-capacity vehicles as opposed to high-capacity luxury vehicles. ALBON also made good its promise to publicise venues for boarding vehicles where passengers could be reimbursed 50% of the fares paid.
Freighting of passengers to the four northeastern States began as early as 5am on Christmas Day, when four 16-seater capacity buses commenced loading of passengers who were refunded half of the fares paid before departing the Area 1 Park in Abuja for their destination.
Scudnews correspondent monitored eight buses loaded with 16 passengers each, totaling 128 cheerful Nigerians who got refunded half of transport fares they paid on Christmas Day, courtesy of President Tinubu’s directive on provision of transportation palliative for the yuletide period.
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