Following a recent partnership agreement reached between the Federal Government and the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), the bus owners have kicked started the implementation of a 50 percent fare discount on designated long distance routes across the country.
This followed a note of gratitude extended to President Bola Tinubu for approving the rebate which, according them, would relieve the travelling public of the burden of high fares occasioned by rising costs of vehicle maintenance.
A statement issued by ALBON on Tuesday encouraged intending travellers to go to designated public motor parks and major transporters’ terminals to pay only half of the current fares and board available busesto their destinations.
The press release signed jointly by ALBON President, Nonso Ubajaka and the Honorary Secretary, Frank Nneji, assured road travelers that long distance luxury bus and mini bus operators would start the collection of 50 percent of the prevailing fares from Tuesday, December 24, until January 5, 2025.
The designated inter-state routes on which the fare rebate is applicable include: Abuja to Damaturu, Kano, Maiduguri, Makurdi, and Sokoto.
Those leaving Abuja for the southern parts of the country, will also pay half the fares if they are traveling to Aba, Benin, Enugu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, and Umuahia.
The discount is also available for departures from Lagos to destinations like Aba, Abuja, Asaba,Calabar, Enugu, Umuahia, Uyo, Warri, and Yenagoa.
Travelers departing Lagos to destinations up north will equally benefit from the ticket rebate if they are going to Gombe, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Lokoja, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Sokoto, Gusau, Jalingo, and Minna
The luxury bus owners further stated, “We urge intending passengers to take advantage of Mr. President’s magnanimity and travel to their various destinations nationwide by paying half of the current fares.
“Our member-companies have all been notified and are ready for the exercise. They include, among others: Chisco Transport; GUO Transport Ltd; ABC Transport; Young Shall Grow Nig Ltd; Izuchukwu Transport Nig. Ltd; God Bless Ezenwata Nig. Ltd; and SD Express Ltd.
Some other ALBON members offering the ticket discount are Ifesinachi Transport Nig. Ltd; E Ekesons Nig. Ltd; Ifeanyi Chukwu Industries & commercial Ltd; Bonnyway Motor Ltd; Delta Express Ltd; Welfare Transport Nig. Ltd. and God Is Good Motors Ltd.
The transport owners assured that the offer would run non-stop from December 24, 2024, to January 5, 2025, informing, however, that this is on ‘‘first come, first served,’’ basis.
“Once again, the Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria wishes to commend President Tinubu for being responsive to the challenges faced by the travelling public. We also wish to commend the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Ahmed Alkali, for his efforts in helping to make the palliative a reality,” the association said.
At the various public motor parks and transporters’ loading offices last weekend, the operators blamed the rise in fares across the routes on the rising cost of maintaining the buses, as well as on the high pump prices of diesel.
They also argued that at the peak of every Christmas season, their vehicles are almost empty during return trips, which leads to a situation whereby the fares for the “to” journeys are raised to cushion the losses incurred during reverse trips.
For instance, according to the operators, during the peak Christmas/New year period, an Onitsha-bound luxury bus that left Lagos with about 59 passengers, may return from Onitsha with as few as 10 people on board, – running the same costs to and fro, but with very few travelers on the return trip.
