President Bola Tinubu has extended the free train service until Sunday, January 7.
Tinubu approved a 50% discount for inter-state road travel and a 100% discount for train travel for Nigerians travelling to celebrate Christmas and New Year with their families on December 20.
The federal government stated that the president wanted citizens to travel within Nigeria during the holiday season without having to pay exorbitant transportation costs.
This was scheduled to last from December 21 to January 4, 2024.
Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, recently stated that approximately 163,878 Nigerians have benefited from the federal government’s transport rebate.
Said Ahmed Alkali, minister of transportation, said in a statement on Thursday that the president issued the directive to allow more Nigerians to take advantage of the free train rides.
The statement reads:
“While over 163,000 Nigerians benefited from successful first leg of the yuletide initiative, President Tinubu, in further demonstration of his care for the welfare of Nigerians, directed that the free train service should be made available for extra 3 days to allow more Nigerians to take the advantage.”
“The public is advised to note that this extension applies to all three routes currently being serviced by the Nigerian Railway Corporation as follows: Lagos – Ibadan, Warri -Itakpe and Abuja – Kaduna.
“It is hoped that Nigerians who are interested in travelling by rail will take full advantage of this unique opportunity aimed at enhancing people’s welfare.”