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FG’s 50% Transport Rebate: A Festive Season Blessing For Travelers By Babajide Fadoju

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent announcement regarding free train rides and a 50% discount on interstate bus fares during the festive period has sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria.

While some voices, notably the Nigerian Labour Congress, expressed skepticism, numerous travelers, including myself, have already experienced the benefits, potentially making this policy a game-changer for the Yuletide season.

The Minister for Transport, Saedu Alkali, explained the rationale behind the government’s decision, emphasizing discussions held with the luxury bus union. Alkali highlighted that the increased fares during festive periods due to empty return trips were considered. He further pointed out the government’s contemplation of the prevailing security situation in the country, leading to the decision for a 50% reduction in road transport fares.

The head of information and public affairs of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Benson Upah, told LEADERSHIP that the federal government was only “killing a cow with mouth,” a term which indicates that it is a declaration that will not work. This claim has not met the light of day, as commuters have continued to enjoy the federal government largesse.

Personally, traversing three states from Lagos to Ogun and then Oyo via the free train journey, I witnessed a surprising smoothness that was absent during regular travels. The usual anxieties of crowded platforms and delayed departures were conspicuously absent, replaced by an atmosphere of festive cheer and genuine relief. Passengers, many of whom shared past struggles with high fares, were visibly grateful for this unexpected benefit.

This sentiment resonates with numerous others who have directly experienced the positive impact. From students finally able to reunite with families to traders transporting goods affordably, the initiative seems to be significantly improving lives. It’s more than mere cost-saving; it’s about enabling freedom to travel, reconnect with loved ones, and partake in the season’s joys, previously inaccessible for many.

Certainly, challenges persist. Valid concerns raised by skeptics, such as the Labour Congress, revolve around sustainability and potential exploitation. The reliance on luxury bus operators mainly and selected routes has not made the benefits totally inclusive for all travellers.

Furthermore, the long-term repercussions on the transport sector require meticulous consideration.

Despite these challenges, the immediate relief experienced by thousands is indisputable. This initiative has served as a lifeline, granting the chance to celebrate and connect during a time shadowed by economic hardships. The visible joy among fellow travelers, the tales of reunited families, and the sheer sense of possibility brought about by this unexpected gesture are genuine testimonials deserving attention.

President Tinubu’s initiative may not offer a flawless solution, yet its immediate impact on countless Nigerians cannot be dismissed. In this season of giving, the policy has bestowed the gift of mobility, connection, and hope. Whether it leads to sustained change or remains a seasonal gesture, one fact remains: for many Nigerians, this Yuletide will be etched as the season when transportation became a gift of liberation.

BIG STORY

Lagos Ministry Demolishes Illegal Gatehouse After Attack On Workers [PHOTOS]

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The Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has commenced the demolition of an illegal gatehouse erected by the management of an estate on January 3, 2025.

The action follows repeated warnings from the ministry, which had earlier alerted the estate about the unlawful construction.

Sources revealed that the estate proceeded to build a soakaway system on the road immediately outside the entrance gate, despite several official warnings from the ministry.

This prompted the ministry’s task force to intervene on January 2, 2025, to dismantle the septic tank that was being constructed.

However, during the operation, workers from the ministry were reportedly attacked and locked up by the estate’s management.

In response to the harassment of its workers, the Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources escalated its actions, directing the demolition of the illegal gatehouse on January 3, 2025.

The demolition is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to ensure that constructions adhere to legal and environmental standards.

Details later…

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BIG STORY

Inside Jigawa: One Dead, Groom Hospitalised As Bride Allegedly Poisons Wedding Guests

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A wedding in Jigawa State has turned tragic after a bride allegedly poisoned food served at the reception.

The incident reportedly left the groom critically ill and one of the wedding guests dead.

The incident occurred in the Jahun Local Government Area of the state.

Eyewitnesses suggested that the bride’s actions may have been driven by a personal vendetta.

Speaking on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Shi’isu Adam, confirmed the incident and stated that an investigation was underway.

“We received a report that the bride had tainted the food served at the wedding reception, leaving the groom critically ill.

“Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the alleged food poisoning incident that occurred during a wedding ceremony in the state,” Adam said.

He revealed that the two suspects are the bride and another female, adding that they are in custody and being interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department of the command.

The police spokesperson added, “We will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”

According to the police spokesman, all the wedding attendants who consumed the poisoned food have been discharged from the hospital, except for the one person who was confirmed dead.

“The command is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and we will provide more details as soon as possible.

“For now, we can confirm that the incident occurred, and we are working tirelessly to unravel the facts. We urge the public to remain calm and assured that justice will be served,” he concluded.

The identities of the deceased, the groom, and other victims have not been disclosed by the authorities.

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Peter Obi Hellbent On Inciting Nigerians Against President Tinubu, He’s A Doomsayer — APC

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Peter Obi’s New Year message as “misleading and an attempt to score cheap political points.”

Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, used his New Year message to criticize President Bola Tinubu, expressing grave concerns over institutional corruption, mismanagement, poverty, hardship, and an escalating debt profile.

The former governor of Anambra stated that corruption has been deeply entrenched in government and nepotism has become the norm under Tinubu’s leadership.

He also demanded “vigorous, positive actions” from the administration to bring succour to Nigerians.

However, in a counter-statement on Thursday, Felix Morka, APC spokesperson, stated that Obi’s assessment contradicted all indicators showing that the nation’s economy is rebounding across various sectors.

Morka accused Obi and members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of relentlessly trying to incite public outrage against the Tinubu administration.

The APC further accused Obi of portraying himself as “a leading doomsayer, omniscient and philosopher’s stone” while failing to deliver “meaningful achievements during his eight-year tenure as governor in Anambra state.”

“In reality, 18 months later, the economy, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a steady record of progress,” the statement reads.

“Despite these and other initial beneficial outcomes of ongoing reforms, the administration is doubling its effort to ensure their fullest benefits for the transformation of our country.

“It is a thing of irony that Obi, who now arrogates to himself to be omniscient and philosopher’s stone, when it comes to our nation’s challenges, left no record of significant achievement, let alone transformation of any kind, in his eight-year tenure as Governor of Anambra State.”

“Like his co-travellers in the PDP, Obi’s obsessive pessimism and endless but futile effort to incite public outrage against the administration is borne out of the realization that Tinubu is unwittingly cementing their political irrelevance by his visionary and full-throttle reform.”

“Under the banner of the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Tinubu is dutifully turning our nation’s fortunes around. We urge Nigerians to remain confident of better days ahead.”

The ruling party added that Tinubu’s goal is to reduce inflation from 34 percent to 15 percent in 2025.

“With the vigour in the administration’s war on corruption, evidenced by ongoing investigations and trial of well-heeled Nigerians, Obi’s pontification on the urgent need to tame corruption is a clear case of carrying coal to Newcastle,” the party added.

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