On Friday, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party Presidential Candidate, H.E Peter Obi, conveyed his views on the Federal Government’s recent move to slash interstate transport fares by 50% during the festive season.
In a statement via X (formerly Twitter), Obi acknowledged the government’s initiative as a commendable first-time intervention aimed at assisting the masses during the Yuletide season. However, he raised concerns about the sustainability of such emergency measures and the lack of clarity regarding post-festive season policies to alleviate high transportation costs.
“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 traveled bearing the brunt and huge costs of such travels. How will such people get their refunds or be compensated?” Obi asked.
The former governor questioned the practicality of the announced discount, citing operational challenges and the absence of checks and balances to ensure transporters adhere to the terms of the contract.
Tinubu Touchdown Lagos for Yuletide
Obi emphasized the need for concrete arrangements with transport companies to prevent potential exploitation of the intervention’s weak structures.
Obi’s disappointment extended to the reported lack of awareness among transporters in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Aba, Kaduna, Owerri, and Gombe.
He said
“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% 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.”
He highlighted that despite the government’s announcement of designated routes and participating transport companies, there were no mechanisms in place to verify compliance.
Tinubu Responds to Obi’s Critic on chasing after foreign investors
Expressing skepticism, Obi urged the government to ensure transparent policy implementation, emphasizing that compassion should not serve as a pretext for exploiting governmental weaknesses.
He concluded by calling on the government to remain sensitive to the ongoing hardships faced by the Nigerian people.
“There are obvious questions on the integrity of this intervention effort. One expects that such a policy that strives to appeal to the broad masses, especially the downtrodden, deliberate and concrete arrangements should be made, with transport companies.
“I pray that this is not yet another spin to curry favour in the media space after appetizing the people. The Nigerian people are going through untold hardship and the government must not remain insensitive to their sufferings.
“Compassion on the part of government is a good thing, but it should not be an avenue for exploiting the weak structures of government to encourage less than transparent policy implementation,” he stated.
