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  • Movement of passengers enjoying Fed Govt’s 50% discount begins

    Movement of passengers enjoying Fed Govt’s 50% discount begins

    Provision has been made for 608,644 would-be travellers during the Yuletide in the transportation palliative announced by the Federal Government.

    The government announced free train ride and 50 per cent cut in road transportation fare between yesterday and January 5.

    Transportation Minister Said Alkali, who gave an update on the initiative yesterday, said the government came up with the gesture to cushion the effect of the economic crunch on ordinary Nigerians.

    According to the minister, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, which commenced the free train ride on December 20, would convey 320,000 passengers in 292 trips with 74 coaches.

    He listed the train routes as Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS), Lagos Intra City Mass Transit  (Lagos MTT), Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS), Port Harcourt-Aba Train Service (PH-ABA), and Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT) MTT.

    Kicking-off the 50 per cent slash in road transportation, Senator Alkali said 288,644 passengers would be conveyed to various parts of the country with 708 vehicles within the next 13 days.

    According to him, officials of the Transportation and other stakeholders have been deployed in various parks to ensure transparency and compliance.

    He said: “The Federal Government’s transport palliative initiative is expected to cushion economic hardship experienced by some Nigerians and to also ensure that they have a good travel experience during this Yuletide period.

    “President Tinubu decided to start it on time so that Nigerians will enjoy the free ride even far ahead of the holidays, and he has approved and extended up to January 5 so that people will return to their respective destinations.

    “We have also commenced 50 per cent road transport palliative today. The flashpoint is Lagos and Abuja, and we are going to cover Abuja to all the 36 states of the Federation, and also Lagos to all the 36 states of the Federation.

    “The road will also last up to the January 5. It is discounted by 50 per cent, and this was approved in the wisdom of Mr. President to provide welfare for the citizens of this great country.

    Read Also:271,704 passengers to enjoy Federal Govt’s fare slash

    “For the entire period by road, we expect to carry 17,588 daily and 288,644 at the end of the exercise. So, for road and rail, it is estimated that 608,644 passengers would enjoy the transport palliative launched by the federal government.

    “No passenger should pay any fare above 50 per cent of the normal transport fare. We have deployed all ministry staff, including the permanent secretary, to ensure transparency and accountability.”

    Commenting on why the road transport palliative began late compared to rail, the Minister explained that the delay was due to feasibility studies and consultations carried out by his ministry.

    He said: “The NRC is an established government agency. The bureaucracy is already put in place. So if you want to start any exercise in railway, you don’t need to have any consultation.

    “It’s just for the government to give directives to the managing director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation to kick-start the exercise.

    “But, that of the road, you need to involve the stakeholders. You need to have their submission. You have to do the feasibility studies. You have to sort out all the nitty gritty. You have to sort out the routes to ensure the availability of buses.

    “That is why that of the road was not able to take off at the same time as that of the rail 13 days, and I think it’s still good enough to convey a lot of people.”

    On the mechanism put in place to ensure transparency and avoid waste, the minister assured that the government would not lose anything.

    “The government will not lose anything because there must be a reconciliation mechanism. At the end of the exercise last year, we sat down with all the companies and did reconciliation because we had manifest and our staff were deployed to all the parks. By the time each of the buses reaches its destination, the staff will go with the driver of that same bus to do some reconciliation.

    “So, money that is not spent will be refunded to the federal government after the exercise and after the reconciliation.”

    Luxury bus owners hail Tinubu

    The much-awaited road component of the 50% fare discount for yuletide began yesterday at the Terminal One of the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI), in Lagos.

    On Monday, Alkali said no fewer than 271,104 passengers would benefit from the 50 per cent transport rebate this yuletide for travellers.

    It is estimated that about 16,944 travellers would be moved daily to and fro, with the Eagle Square, Abuja, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the OTI, Oshodi, as major hub of focus.

    Alkali directed participating transport unions – Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), God is Good Motors (GIGM) and Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON), to ensure that all palliative buses are moved to the designated loading points early to move passengers who seek to take advantage of the initiative to join their loved ones across the country for the Christmas and New Year.

    It was yesterday that all participating unions at Oshodi had mobilised their members to the Terminal One yesterday to ensure a stress-free take off of the scheme

    The RTEAN, NURTW and ALBON operators recorded a surge in patronage to various destinations, including Ilorin, Akure, Ekiti, Osogbo, Ogbomoso and Aba, among several other locations.

    The ALBON bus owners and other operators expressed their gratitude 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.

    They encouraged intending travellers, who wish to enjoy the rebate to go to designated public motor parks and major transporters’ terminals to pay only half of the current fares and board available buses to their destinations.

    ALBON President Nonso Ubajaka and Secretary, Frank Nneji, assured road travellers that long luxury and mini buses operators plying long distances that buses would be available for them at the OTI, Oshodi, from yesterday.

    They gave the assurance in a statement they made available to reporters in Lagos yesterday.

    The trips on the designated inter-state routes from Abuja and Lagos would take travellers to all capital cities in the 36 states.

    Those leaving Abuja for the southern parts of the country, will pay half the fares if they are travelling 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.

    Travellers 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.”

    ALBON however stated that the transport owners assured that the offer would run on a “first come, first served basis.

    The association said: “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.”

    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.

    According to them, 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 travellers on the return trip.

  • Gunmen abduct Southeast-bound passengers, allegedly kill driver

    Gunmen abduct Southeast-bound passengers, allegedly kill driver

    Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly hijacked GUO motors coming to the South-East from Lagos State, South West Nigeria and abducted all passengers.

    The kidnappers reportedly killed the driver of the bus and left a little girl behind after kidnapping her parents alongside other passengers.

    Although the exact location of the incident could not be ascertained, information had it that it happened on Friday, voices in a video of the incident shared by Senator Ned Nwoko on his X (formerly Twitter) said that the vehicle was coming from Lagos.

    In the video circulated on Saturday, a voice said: “This bus is coming from Lagos. We stopped together at Akure and ate.”

    Meanwhile, the Senator has decried the attack, noting that this was one of the reasons for the law on self-defence which he is sponsoring at the National Assembly.

    Senator Nwoko, who expressed dismay over the handling of the kidnapping menace by the security agencies, said that perhaps if the driver had a gun or any of the passengers, the kidnappers wouldn’t certainly have their way.

    The attack has attracted angry reactions from Nigerians who also shared the same belief that if this is the law on self-defence and residents can carry arms, the kidnapping monster would certainly be teamed.

    @flourish007 wrote: “I agree with you here Mr Senator because one of the main reasons citizens should be allowed to carry firearms for self-defense is the fundamental right to protect oneself and loved ones from harm.

    “In situations like this one where law enforcement wasn’t available, individuals including the driver and passengers should have the means to defend themselves from potential threats.

    Read Also: Ondo Amotekun moves to rescue kidnapped passengers in Kogi

    “Additionally, in some areas where kidnapping and robbery are regularly occurring, response times for emergency services are always lengthy, making self-defense a crucial aspect of personal safety.

    “Furthermore, responsible gun ownership and training can empower individuals to be more capable of protecting themselves and others in dangerous situations. However, it is important to emphasize the need for strict regulations, background checks, and training to ensure that firearms are used responsibly and safely.

    “I wish you lawmakers can at least do this for the defenseless citizens. Obviously you guys have security attached to your roles coupled with N160m SUVs purchased with our money.

    “If kidnappers knows that there are NOT likely to succeed and return to their forests. They will STOP.”

    @francis_ranco wrote: “You are right on this, Oga.

    “Self defence is the most effective way of self-preservation. Nigerians must be allowed to defend themselves. If the govt fails to adhere to this, dem go explain tire later!”

    @solexcasa also wrote:

    “It is evident that this incident happened a few minutes before the security personnel arrived. Why are they not going after the kidnappers? 

    “Why are they speaking to the girl and contaminating the crime scene? Why are men of the @PoliceNG so unprofessional in their conduct?”

  • Airline, passengers trade words over missed flight

    Ten passengers, who on Tuesday missed their flight to Kano from Lagos are blaming Azman Air Services Ltd (AASL) for their predicament.

    They said the airline’s workers’ “overzealousness” led to the problem.

    But the airline absolved its officials of any wrongdoing.

    The passengers said they got to the counter between 9:35 and 9:40am for the 10am flight. According to the rule, “check-in closes 30 mins before departure” and “boarding gate closes 15 mins before departure.”

    Among the passengers were a journalist, a businessman and some government officials.

    They alleged that an official insisted that they had missed the flight when there was still about 10 minutes left for them to collect their passes and go for boarding.

    One of the passengers reportedly told an official, Bashiru Otaru, that he had “checked-in” online. He said Otaru refused to give him the  already printed boarding pass when he asked for it.

    The official was said to have told the passenger that he should have printed the boarding pass online after completing the check in.

    The passenger said he did it on his phone and as such the pass could not printed.

    Another passenger showed him his printed “checked in” boarding pass, but Otaru still reportedly stopped him from taking the flight.

    They took their complaint to the operations manager, who led them back to Otaru, but he still insisted that they had missed the flight.

    The operations manager reportedly wondered why Otaru behaved that way since the flight was not full.

    The passengers subsequently took their case to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) office where a woman told them that under the law they had missed the flight since they were late for five minutes.

    Their protest against her statement was to no avail.

    Read also: Singer, daughter were violently killed, says pathologist

    After the rescheduling of their flight for 6:45pm and the paying of the N5,000 fine and above for “no show”, three of the passengers returned to the station manager’s office.

    The Station Manager, Kawu Sani Aliyu, told them that Otaru did nothing wrong.

    He said Otaru could have notified him since some of the passengers had urgent engagements that could not wait till the 6:45pm flight.

    “We don’t derive joy in making our passengers miss flights. We try as much as possible to assist them get on board. This particular flight was delayed because we noticed that some people have checked-in and they are not on board. We had to make four announcements,” Aliyu said.

  • Train kills motorcyclist, passengers

    A train yesterday killed a motorcyclist and his passenger at the railway level crossing at PWD near Ikeja GRA.

    The identity card of Police Inspector Philip Kolo was found at the accident scene.

    It could not be ascertained if he was the rider or the passenger.

    Lagos District Manager of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Jerry Oche said  the motorcyclist refused to stop for the Apapa-bound train.

    “We have warned passersby, motorists and other road users to stay away from railway tracks.

    “Railway track is a very dangerous place to toy with; everything involves iron, both the rail tracks and the train itself.

    “I learnt that he was trying to outsmart the train before he was crushed by the moving train.

    “It’s an unfortunate accident.

    “We appeal to people to learn from such accident and be patient at the railway level crossings across the state,” he said.

    The district manager said the victims’ remains had been taken to the mortuary, adding that the police were working on contacting their families.

  • Dana unveils Cash Back for passengers

    Dana Air  has introduced customer-centric initiative designed to enable passengers get   ‘Cash Back’’ on every  flight booking, using a “ Thank U”  card.

    The initiative requires the airline’s passengers to get a thank you card at its Murtala Muhammed Airport  Terminal Two, Lagos   sales outlet.

    According to the airline’s spokesman, Kingsley Ezenwa , passengers should   pay for their booking using the card, to  get good  discount on every booking which can also be used to shop at any partner outlets.

    Ezenwa said : “Dana Air is pleased to have again moved a notch higher towards achieving its vision  of becoming Nigeria’s most customer-friendly airline with the launch of the ‘thank you’ initiative, which is designed to further appreciate and reward our guests for their loyalty.’’

    ‘’A customer with the thank you card doesn’t need to queue to pay for booking at any of our outlets. It is just a swipe and the card is debited. The passenger also gets the cash back reward instantly. This means our guests get rewarded instantly for every booking. It’s just our little way of creating a seamless travel experience for our guests while still rewarding their patronage.’’

    Speaking further, he  said: “ We will continue to explore technology to ease booking, and exceed the travel experience of our guests. We are a creative brand with a knack for innovation and ingenuity. Our self-service kiosk is also located at MMA2, where guests can choose to avoid the queue and book tickets, reschedule their flights or even pay for their booking without an interface with our agents. The kiosk is the first of its kind at the airport and created to suit the needs of our time-conscious guests.’’

  • Caution reckless drivers – FRSC tells passengers

    The Ondo State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) wants passengers to caution drivers against reckless driving during and after the Easter festival.

    The Deputy Sector Commander and Head of Operations, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, says  it is imperative for the FRSC to advise the public on the necessity of cautioning drivers against reckless driving in view of the spate of carnage on the road.

    He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “It is not just about drivers alone, members of public also have responsibilities as passengers in any vehicle,” Ogungbemide said.

    “Passengers should caution drivers tactfully anytime they notice recklessness without distracting the drivers. It is the passenger’s responsibility to advise driver to keep to safety rules.

    “Data available to us has confirmed that passengers are always the victims anytime there is a crash, while drivers most of the time escape unhurt.

    “That is why passengers should always be proactive anytime they are in transit so as not to allow their life to be wasted by reckless drivers, especially during festivities.”

    Ogungbemide said the command had deployed men of the corps to critical areas of the state, especially highways, to ensure smooth Easter celebration.

    Accordingly the command has stationed emergency ambulances in such critical areas as Akure, Owo and Ikare Akoko axis in case of crashes.

    He said FRSC personnel “are working day and night to make sure that crashes do not happen and eventually if it happened, our men are expected to be there within 15 minutes to rescue victims.”

    He also said the command had removed vehicles parked on highways, asking that “if there is anyone we have not removed, we are pleading with the public to reach out to us immediately.”

    He announced that the command was carrying out “Operation No Mercy” to enforce traffic rules and regulations across the state.

  • Drunk pilot detained, passengers to wait three days in Germany

    PASSENGERS on flight TP523, which was cancelled on Friday after a co-pilot was found to be drunk, will likely have to wait until tomorrow to be flown from Stuttgart to Lisbon.

    Monday was “at the moment, the first day with seats available,” TAP Air Portugal said via Twitter, answering a tweet from a passenger who had complained about the long wait for a substitute flight.

    Passengers stayed in a hotel Friday night as they waited to be rescheduled because there wasn’t a replacement crew available to fly them to Lisbon.

    The flight from Stuttgart to Lisbon was stopped shortly before take-off on Friday when an airport worker discovered that the co-pilot seemed unsteady on his feet and reeked of alcohol, police and the state prosecutor’s office said.

    The worker informed airport police and aviation authorities, who determined that the 40-year-old was unfit to fly. He was detained and bail was set at 10,000 euros ($12,300 dollars).

    He was also asked to surrender his flying licence.

    Police declined to give any additional details.

    The 106 passengers had to be put up in hotels because the airline could not provide a fresh flight crew at short notice.

  • Passengers stranded at BRT termini

    Passengers stranded at BRT termini

    Hundreds of passengers were stranded at  Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminuses in Lagos yesterday because of what was described as fuel shortage at Lagos BRT depots.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that passengers waited for hours for the buses.

    Many commuters resorted to alternative means of getting to their destinations.

    A BRT driver said their operations were affected by fuel shortage at their depots.

    “We are still expecting fuel supply to start operations; passengers have been stranded, waiting for us to start our operations. But we are hoping for the best, before the day runs out we will start our normal services,” he said.

    A civil servant, Mr Jimi Faleye, who lives in Fadeyi, Lagos, said commercial buses cashed in on the situation to increase fares.

    A trader, Mrs Titilayo Bolarinwa,  said she incurred more expenses because of the inavailability of  BRT.

    Primero Public Relations Officer Mrs Mosunmola Agbaje said there was a “little internal crisis” which the management was meeting to resolve.

    Agbaje said: “Very soon the buses would roll out for operations. There is a little internal crisis which will soon be resolved;  very soon the buses will roll out for operations.”

    On the death of a schoolboy on Monday, the spokesperson said a committee had been set up to look into the issue, adding that its outcome would be made public.

    NAN reports that most of the buses operated on Wednesday without their air conditions functioning.

    Commercial buses have increased their fares from N200 to N400 from Ikorodu to CMS; N250 to Ketu, and N300 to Mile 12 from Ikorodu as against N100.

  • DANA Air passengers retrieve luggage

    DANA Air passengers retrieve luggage

    THE luggage of the 44 passengers that boarded the DANA Air MD 83 aircraft Flight 9J0363 from Abuja to Port Harcourt on Tuesday has been retrieved, it was learnt yesterday.

    The retrieve of the luggage, a source close to the airline said, came after complaints by some of the passengers who boarded the aircraft which overshot the runway of Port Harcourt Airport due to heavy rain.

    The source hinted that the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), the agency saddled with the probe of air accidents and serious incidents, was yet to release the aircraft to the airline as at yesterday.

    The source said the delay in releasing the aircraft might not be unconnected with the need for detailed probe into the serious incident.

    A team of investigators from the AIB, led by its director of operations, Captain Dayyabu Danraka, is in Port Harcourt to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the incident and make recommendations to forestall future occurrence.

    It was also learnt that DANA Air is reaching out to some of the 44 passengers for possible post trauma treatment.

  • Passengers miss flights as ex-Airways workers protest

    Passengers miss flights as ex-Airways workers protest

    Former workers and pensioners of liquidated national carrier – Nigeria Airways Limited yesterday staged a protest at the Lagos Airport over the delay by the Ministry of Finance in paying their N45 billion severance benefit.

    The protesters numbering over 100 blocked the busy Airport Road disrupting vehicular movement.

    They marched from the Skypower Catering Company premises, one of the subsidiaries of the liquidated former carrier opposite the Nigeria Air Force Base to the section of the road leading to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT).

    Some families of the ex-workers whose parents have died  joined the protest. They wer clad in black attires and sang solidarity songs twith placards with inscriptions conveying their plight.

    In the process, three of them collapsed and were immediately revived.

    The blockage of the road forced many passengers to get on motor bikes otherwise known as Okada, so avoid missing their flights.

    Three of the protesting staff collapsed during the protest and were immediately revived.

    The ex-workers said they were disappointed that despite approval by the Federal Executive Council, seven months ago, the Ministry of Finance is yet to release their money.

    The ex-staff carried placards with different inscriptions principally targeted at Finance Minister Mrs Kemi Adeosun whom they accused of being insensitive to their plights for refusing to release their entitlements.