Osun Provides Free Train Ride During Eid-el-Fitri

The Government of the State of Osun in its resolve to make life better for its people living in the state and outside, will on Friday commence its free railway transportation to aid those holidaying during the Eid-el-Fitri festivity.

According to a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the train service will kick off on Friday through Saturday by 9 a.m. and convey passengers from the Ido Terminus in Lagos to Osogbo, State of Osun.

He also added that passengers will be conveyed from Osogbo to Lagos for two days which commences from Sunday and ends on Monday starting by 10 a.m. each day.

The Omoluabi Train, as the service is popularly called, the government said, is to facilitate easy movement of people in the state during the festive period.

According to the statement, the service is part of the tourism and economic development strategies of the administration.

It will be recalled that the free train service conveyed travellers during the last Easter holiday from Mushin, Ikeja, Agege (all in Lagos); Agbado, Abeokuta (in Ogun State); Ibadan, (Oyo State) to Osogbo.

The free train service had also come in handy during the transportation crisis caused by the sudden increase in the prices of petroleum products in January this year.

Those who benefited from the services in the past commended the government for restoring the hopes of Nigerians in the capacity of the railway system as catalyst for speedy economic development.