The Federal Government in a bid to alleviate financial burdens on travelers returning from the festive season has extended the free train ride initiative until Sunday. Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), announced this collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation to facilitate the movement of Nigerians who journeyed during the holiday period.
Okhiria emphasized the importance of passengers continuing to book their tickets online to avoid crowding at various terminals. He urged travelers to acquire their tickets from authorized sources at no cost, ensuring seamless access to and boarding of the trains.
Commending the Federal Government for the extension, Okhiria noted that this gesture would provide relief to travelers by eliminating transportation costs.
The free train rides initiative was launched on December 21, 2023, for all passenger services by the NRC, following the directive of President Bola Tinubu. Initially set to conclude on Thursday, the extension till Sunday aims to accommodate those returning after the initial end date.
Dr. Dele Alake, Chairman of the Committee on Implementation of FG End of Year Transportation Subsidy Programme and Minister of Solid Minerals Resources, provided an overview of the initiative’s success in its first ten days. During this period, the NRC facilitated the free transportation of 71,000 passengers from December 21 to December 31, 2023, under the program.
