The Nigerian Railway Corporation has announced the commencement of free train services across the country.
The free train will commence from Thursday December 21, 2023 to Thursday January 4, 2024 according to NRC following the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
The statement said: “Passengers are advised to obtain their free tickets via the online e-ticketing platforms only. Tickets will not be issued at any of the corporation’s train stations. Please note that no commuter will be allowed to board the train without a ticket.
“We enjoin commuters to be orderly, obey security personnel and the laid down boarding instructions of the NRC and those of its officials while at the station and on board the trains. We wish all our esteemed customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance.”
DAILY GIST reports that the free train rides will be available on all classes of trains run by the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
According to President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu had also approved a 50 per cent reduction in road transport fares and free train rides for Nigerians travelling for Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The fare subsidies will apply to interstate vehicles taking passengers to their home states and towns for the festive period.
The governement expects that the transport reliefs will ease financial burdens on Nigerians travelling for Christmas to reconnect with family and loved ones.
“President Tinubu says the Federal Government will bear 50% of the transport fares for interstate road travellers during Christmas and New Year. Train rides will be absolutely free.
The policy takes effect from 21 December and ends 4 January 2024,” Onanuga said in a tweet.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake also announced the development to State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday.
Alake said, “It is in this wise that the President is announcing through us that beginning from tomorrow, December 21, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via mini buses, luxury buses at 50 per cent discount of current cost and all our train services on the route the trains currently serve at zero cost on their travels this holiday season.
“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow, Thursday, December 21 and it will end on January 4, 2024.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, will be working with transporters, road transport unions, the Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.”
Alake added that, “I can tell you that all the relevant stakeholders in that industry have been discussed with or been engaged and all the parameters laid out and the Minister of Transportation has the full details and it’s on top of the game.
“In fact, the Presidents of the various transport unions have been met…and everything is in top shape in terms of execution.”
However, Alake said air travel was excluded from the initiative because the initiative is targeted at the masses.
“The initiative is for the masses. Air is luxury. The masses don’t use air transport. So they are our main target,” he said
