Federal Government’s Free Train Rides Benefit Over 63,000 Passengers During Festive Season
Over 63,000 people have benefited from the Federal Government’s initiative of providing free train rides for Nigerians during the festive season, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
During a recent briefing in Lagos, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of NRC, revealed that the free train rides, which commenced on December 21, 2023, and will continue until January 4, 2024, have seen a significant uptake, with 63,000 passengers already availing themselves of the service between December 24 and 26 alone.
The initiative, declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, covers all passenger services operated by the NRC, and it is part of the government’s efforts to ease the financial burden of travel during the festive period. Additionally, the government has implemented a 50% discount on inter-state transportation fares to further support travellers.
Engr. Okhiria expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s support in underwriting the costs associated with providing the free train service, emphasizing that this initiative has been made possible through the government’s commitment and assistance.
He encouraged passengers to obtain their tickets through the NRC website, explaining that this approach helps in gathering necessary information to manage the passenger profiles effectively.
The NRC MD also highlighted the corporation’s efforts to ensure the smooth operation of the free train service, stating that railway workers across the country have been mobilized to enforce the President’s directive effectively.
Despite the success of the free train initiative, Engr. Okhiria voiced concern about the ongoing challenge of track vandalization. He revealed that over 50,000 clips were vandalized on the Lagos-Ibadan and Kaduna-Abuja rail lines, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to address this issue and safeguard railway infrastructure.
Source: NAN
