Nigerian Railway Corporation speaks on transport fare cut by FG

Barely some hours after the Federal Government announced a 50% cut in the cost of rail and other means of public transportation, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it has yet to recoup money from prior transportation fare waivers by the government.

While praising the development, NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria voiced concern about the cost of the intervention project and hoped that the government would cover the costs incurred.

“This is not the first time. We did this two years ago. It was effective. I say we’ve yet to recover from that. But what is the government for? The government is to make sure that people have comfort as much as possible,” he said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

“And we are quite willing and wishing to provide that service. You know, you don’t forget in other developed world, they get this thing either directly or indirectly.

“You recall during the COVID, even private companies were given relief, and those without jobs like in the UK, US, and everywhere…So it’s a good thing that the government considers we should do a free service, but they should also be willing to provide the resources to do it.

“We are hoping this time they are going to give us fuel and those 15 days we are going to provide the free service. They are also willing to provide at least the money we pay to the cleaners and the security.”

The head of the railway body said  all needed arrangements have been put in place to buy diesel to power the trains, among other expenses.

Recall that the Tinubu-led administration on Wednesday announced a 50 percent cut in the cost of transportation during the festive season. The government said the move was aimed at easing the financial challenges associated with holiday travel across the country.

Nigeria is usually busy in December, recording the highest number of air, road transport, and railway passengers