BY GODWIN OBI
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described as a step in the right direction the transport relief programme announced by the presidency.
He, however, expressed doubts about the transparency of the initiative
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said on his X handle on Friday: “If the 50 per cent slash in the price of inter-state transport fare and free rides for commuters on all train services for Nigerians travelling during this Yuletide from Thursday December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024, is fully implemented as reported, “I consider this first-time intervention of the government, intended to help the masses, a step in the right direction. However, the major concern about such emergency measures is what follows afterwards.
“The high cost of transportation and associated hardships are all well known. The question this seasonal palliative raises is that of what happens after the festive season. Is there a sustainable policy measure to cushion the masses from the current high transportation costs? Even the current effort comes with operational challenges. Millions of people have already travelled, bearing the brunt and huge costs of such travels. How will such people get their refunds or be compensated?”
Obi stated that he took time to inquire into the implementation mechanics of the 50 per cent discount in inter-state transport, across different cities, “but I have been disappointed. Today, I sent out contacts, who consulted widely with the transporters in major parks across the country: in Abuja. They carried out on the spot investigation in Jabi/Utako areas; in Lagos, they visited major parks like Jibowu, Festac, Mile 12, Ajah, and Mazamaza, and none of the transporters in these parks was aware of this 50 per cent discount. At Upper Iweka, Onitsha, which is the main traffic hub in Anambra, and in other parts of the country like; Kano, Aba, Kaduna, Owerri, and Gombe, the story is the same.
“The government has again announced the few transport companies chosen to participate in the intervention for which 28 routes have been designated. There are no announced forms of checks and balances to ensure that the transporters follow the terms of the contract. There are obvious questions on the integrity of this intervention effort.”
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Pythrocin distributed by Pinnacle Health Pharmaceuticals Ltd
2023-12-23
