Gom Mirian
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has raised concerns over the financial implications of the transportation fare waivers declared by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, saying it was yet to recover from previous interventions.
Tinubu had announced a 50% waiver on road transport fares and free services for rail transportation, in a bid to alleviate the high transport costs, particularly during the Yuletide season.
Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, while acknowledging the positive impact of the intervention, highlighted the need for the government to provide the necessary resources to support the initiative.
Okhiria pointed out that the NRC had previously implemented similar fare waivers, which had proven effective but had also posed financial challenges for the agency.
He said: “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 for those 15 days we are going to provide the free service…..(and) are also willing to provide at least the money we pay to the cleaners and the security.”
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