50% fare slash: Luxury bus operators in full implementation, offer 11,118 seats daily

50% fare slash: Luxury bus operators in full implementation, offer 11,118 seats daily

The Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), a body for owners and operators of long distance mass transit inter-state bus service nationwide, says its members have commenced full implementation of the 50 per cent fare reduction approved by President Bola Tinubu.
It also said a total of 11,118 seats were being provided daily by its members for the special travel arrangement.
A statement signed jointly by ALBON President, Nonso Ubajaka and the Honorary Secretary, Frank Nneji, said members’ vehicles are now collecting 50 per cent of the applicable fares on the routes announced by the Federal Government when the presidential gesture was announced on Wednesday.
The special fare discount which took effect from Thursday, December 21, 2023 will end on January 4, 2024.
The press statement enjoined passengers travelling during this festive period to take advantage of the President’s magnanimous gesture intended to lessen their transportation cost, to travel to their various destinations.
Some of the routes listed are Lagos to major cities in the North, and South-East, and South-South, such as Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Zaria, Jos, Onitsha, Owerri, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakailiki, Aba, Uyo and Port Harcourt.
Also covered are Onitsha to Lagos, and various destinations in the North, such as Kano, Abuja, Sokoto, Jos, and Gombe, as well as Aba-Owerri-Abuja; and Aba-Lagos.
Passengers departing Abuja to Maiduguri, Sokoto, Lagos, Onitsha/Owerri/Port Harcourt, Enugu/Abakaliki, Kano and Gombe routes will also pay only half of the current fares, the group stated.
The ALBON statement also said, “All our members’ companies are involved in this exercise. “They are, among others: Young Shall Grow Nig Ltd; Chisco Transport Ltd; Izuchukwu Transport Nig. Ltd; ABC Transport Plc; GUO Transport Ltd; God Bless Ezewanta Nig. Ltd; SD Express Ltd; Welfare Transport Nig. Ltd; Ifesinachi Transport Nig. Ltd; E Ekesons Nig. Ltd; Ifeanyi Chukwu Industries & commercial Ltd; Bonnyway Motor Ltd; Delta Express Ltd; and God Is Good Motors Ltd.
“The listed operators involved in the fare discount are providing 11,118 seats per day for the duration of the exercise, which ends on January 4, 2024.”
The press release further started, “All intending passengers on the above listed routes are requested to go to our members various bus stations nationwide to book and board our buses on payment of only 50 per cent (half the price) of the prevailing or current bus fare during the period on the principle of ‘first come, first served,’ on the daily basis during the period.
“The Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria once again commends and salutes the Federal Government of Nigeria under the listening and responsive leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for this great package for the travelling masses. “We also thank the Honourable Minister of Transportation Senator Ahmed Saad Alkali for his unrelenting efforts in ensuring that Mr. President’s magnanimous gesture for the travelling masses during this festive period is fully implemented.
“This indeed is the dawn of the Renewed Hope for us in the luxury bus industry and our numerous passengers nationwide.”