By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has declared free passenger train ride in commemoration of Christmas.
The free train voyage which began on 24th December 2021 will end on 4th January 2022.
The declaration was announced in a news statement issued by Yakub Mahmood, the Deputy Director, Public Relations of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
“The Federal Government through Ministry of Transportation has in the spirit of Christmas declared passenger trains across the Nigerian Railway Corporation system free of charge during the Christmas period to enable Nigerians travel and celebrate Christmas,” Mahmood said.
He stated that all passenger trains on both standard and narrow gauge lines, which include Abuja to Kaduna, Lagos to Ibadan, Warri to Itakpe, Kano to Lagos, Minna to Kaduna and Aba to Port Harcourt routes will carry passengers free of charge within the stipulated period.
“However”, the deputy director announced, “the NRC management further explains that all board tickets due process by our valued customers must be complied with but not paid, while COVID-19 protocols also must be strictly observed on board.”
The railway corporation appealled to all Nigerians to use the kind gesture from the government to pray for Nigeria.
“The government wished all Nigerians merry Christmas and a prosperous new year,” Mahmood wrote in the news release titled: “Federal Government Declares Free Passengers Train Ride” which was dated 24th December 2021.
