GIG (God Is Good) Motors has mentioned its group is wanting ahead to the Federal Government’s approval and implementation of the 50% reduction in interstate transport fares, as was performed between December 2023, and January 4, 2024, ahead of the festive season and the 2027 basic elections.
The Chief Executive Officer of GIG Mobility, Dr. Enahoro Okhae, disclosed this on Wednesday throughout the launch of the corporate’s new merchandise, HireX and PASS, in Abuja, which was attended by Nairametrics.
In 2023, Nairametrics reported that the Federal Government listed five transport companies, including GIG (God Is Good) Motors, Chisco Transport, Young Shall Grow, God Bless Ezenwata, and Area Motor, for the implementation of the 50% reduction in interstate transport fares between December 21, 2023, and January 4, 2024.
What the agency is saying
Responding to a Nairametrics query on how the corporate fared throughout the fare reduction train and its outlook on a potential reimplementation, Okhae confirmed that the corporate was already in discussions with officers of the Ministry of Transportation on the reintroduction of the scheme, describing it as a “very important scheme.”
- “When the Federal Government did that (fare reduction), it was a very, very laudable, very important scheme. We did it, it was great, we enjoyed it because it made more people travel, they (customers) enjoyed it because it gave them 50% discount,” he mentioned.
He confirmed that the scheme was carried out in 2023 and 2024, however not in 2025.
He added that demand usually surges throughout festive durations resulting from elevated passenger site visitors, making fare will increase virtually inevitable.
He additionally famous that related stakeholders had been already participating the federal government on the chance of reintroducing the scheme.
- “Well, we’re already having these talks (on fare reduction).
- “We’re hoping that it will happen again this year because a lot of people are also going to travel. You know the general election is in January 2027, so there’s going to be a lot of movement in the course of December. We’re really hoping that it happens because it helps a lot of people to travel,” he mentioned.
He defined that if a passenger would ordinarily (as an example) spend N60,000 travelling from one location to a different, resulting from elevated demand, the proposed 50% reduction would carry the fare right down to N30,000.
According to him, such a reduction would put extra money in individuals’s pockets and allow them to benefit from the festive durations.
Transport companies have to be dependable – NADDC
Speaking on the launch, Mr. Joseph Osanipin, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), recommended platforms that use innovation to simplify the journey expertise by bringing totally different mobility-related companies collectively.
According to him, technology-driven options ought to tackle sensible challenges confronted by travellers, together with transportation preparations, lodging, airport transfers and navigation in unfamiliar locations.
However, he recognized “trust, reliability and efficient service delivery” as important pathways to the profitable adoption of digital mobility platforms.
He mentioned prospects have to be assured that their private info and transactions are safe and that companies promised by digital platforms shall be delivered as anticipated.
FG’s transport fare slash
In 2023, Nairametrics reported that President Bola Tinubu had announced a 50% reduction in interstate transport fares and free commuter rides on all rail strains from December 20, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, disclosed this to State House correspondents after a gathering with the President.
He mentioned:
- “In the spirit of Christmas and end-of-the-year festivities, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in another demonstration of his love for Nigerians, has approved that the Federal Government should intervene to bring down the cost of public transportation to allow our compatriots who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden posed by high transport costs around this period.”
According to the minister, President Tinubu wished Nigerians to have the ability to journey inside the nation to wherever they wished to satisfy their family members with out the additional burden of paying exorbitantly for interstate public transportation.
