Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has praised the Federal Government for its initiative to partner with major transport companies to subsidize interstate fares by 50% during the Yuletide season. However, in a post on his social media account, Obi raised concerns about the implementation of the initiative, citing a lack of compliance by transporters.
Obi commended the intervention as a positive step to help the masses but expressed worry about the absence of checks and balances to ensure proper implementation. He emphasized the need for a sustainable policy measure to cushion the masses from the high transportation costs beyond the festive season.
The former governor of Anambra State questioned the operational challenges of the initiative and highlighted the plight of millions who have already traveled and incurred substantial costs. Obi conducted on-the-spot investigations in major parks across cities like Abuja, Lagos, Onitsha, Kano, Aba, Kaduna, Owerri, and Gombe. He reported that transporters in these areas were not aware of the 50% discount announced by the government.
Obi expressed disappointment that such a beneficial initiative could be allegedly hijacked, adding that the government should clarify the situation and ensure transparency in policy implementation. He called on the government not to be insensitive to the sufferings of the people and emphasized the importance of transparent policy implementation.
