Federal Capital Territory (FCT) commuters have expressed their appreciation for the decision of the Federal Government to provide a 50% discount on transport fares to various destinations within the country. The commuters conveyed their gratitude in individual interviews on Sunday.
President Bola Tinubu had authorized the implementation of this 50% discount on road transport fares from December 24, 2023, to January 4, 2024. One commuter, Mr Dapo Esan, a lawyer who had booked a luxurious bus trip from Abuja to Lagos at the ABC Transport office, praised the government for subsidizing half of his ticket cost. He described the sudden implementation of the discount as commendable and real.
Esan further mentioned that the regular fare for the trip to Lagos is N35,000, but he only had to pay N17,500, which is half of the amount. He appreciated the government’s effort in fulfilling its promises and hoped that such initiatives would help alleviate the current hardships faced by the people.
Similarly, a Corps member, Ms Sylverline Alakwem, expressed her gratitude for the discount, as she was traveling from Abuja to Owerri. She initially doubted the news of the discount but was pleasantly surprised to receive a rebate of half the fare at the ABC Transport counter.
She urged the government to continue with such measures and appreciated the relief it provided for travelers, expressing her intention to share the news with friends who were deterred by the high cost of fares.
Mr Kanayo Friday, the Manager of ABC Transport in Utako, Abuja, also lauded the government’s policy of reducing ticket fares by 50%, highlighting the positive impact it has had on the passengers’ travel experiences.
However, some transport unions revealed that they were still charging full fares as the federal government had not yet initiated the 50% discount arrangement with them.
Despite this, the expressions of gratitude from the FCT commuters highlight the positive impact of the government’s decision to alleviate the financial burden of travel for the public.