By Olawale Lamina
The Tinubu Media Support Group,TMSG, has described the presidential approval of a six-month free ride on the Abuja metro- light rail as a further confirmation of the consistent pro-people disposition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
TMSG, in a joint statement signed by its Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa and Secretary Dapo Okubanjo, emphasized that the gesture was a way of demonstrating the fact that Mr. President truly understood what Nigerians have been experiencing since the removal of fuel subsidy.
The statement read: “When President Bola Tinubu addressed the nation in a national broadcast two months into his administration, he was empathic that he understood the hardship many Nigerians were going through in the aftermath of the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange rates.
“He also promised to take steps ‘in the immediate to reduce the burden our current economic situation has imposed on all of us, most especially on businesses, the working class, and the ordinary Nigerians
The group observed that the recent approval of free ride on the Abuja metro line for six months with effect from June to December, just like the introduction of students loans, a consumer credit scheme, a more robust and expansive social welfare programme, as well as grants to small businesses and the disbursement of N75 billion to MSMEs amongst others are sufficient evidence that President Tinubu made promises and fulfilled them, because he was well abreast of the needs of the people.
The TMSG called on Nigerans to take advantage of the free metro line, while enumerating its dynamics and operational capacity, saying, “To better understand the implication of this Presidential directive, we invite Nigerians to note that two lines, Lot 1A from Idu to Gbazango and Lot 3 from the Metro station in the city centre to the Abuja Airport will operate two trains each simultaneously every day and move a total daily passenger count of 39,200 and 980,000 commuters in 25 operational days in a month.
“So what this means is that for six months, the Abuja light rail will be expected to move a cumulative passenger count of 5,880,000 commuters free on the two lines that transcend the city centre and about 12 satellite towns on the Idu-Gbazango Kubwa axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In its assessment, the measures by the Tinubu-led administration would help mitigate “the transportation burden of residents of those satellite towns as well as encourage greater use of the Abuja metro rail system.”
Continuing, the group said: “And for us, the feedback we are getting from the local and international media on the first week of operation of the light rail has been encouraging. It shows that President Tinubu’s gesture is well received judging by the adulation from many commuters.
“We are aware that the Abuja light rail which was first commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 was partly funded by loans from the Export-Import Bank of China, which provided 60% of the funds but we also know that the President’s free-ride decision for six months is one sure way of fulfilling part of his vows to lessen the burden of high cost of living.”
The statement commended President Tinubu for prioritizing the welfare of the citizenry over and above revenue generation.
It expressed further confidence in the nature of generosity of the President, “to continue to be guided by the public good in his daily decision-making.’
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