The federal government has flagged off the free train ride across the country as part of measures to reduce the financial burden and to ensure Nigerians who intend to travel enjoy the yuletide season.
According to the federal government, Nigerians who want to travel during the yuletide would enjoy a free train ride from 20th December to 5th January 2025.
The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Ben Iloanusi said the Corporation projects to ferry over 340,000 passengers during the period.
He disclosed this at the Kubwa train station in Abuja on Friday after the first train departed Abuja for Rigasa in Kaduna State.
He also assured that security has been beefed up to protect passengers, manage crowds and ensure orderliness.
He said: “Today is the first free ride palliative set by the federal government, and It’s a very grand idea. We assure Nigerians that we will enforce the free train ride and make sure it goes successfully.”
On requirements to board the train, Iloanusi said: “Prospective passengers are expected to book their tickets online free of charge and then come with a means of identification to the station before boarding and for those who may be unable to get tickets online, they would be profiled by our staff before they board.”
On the number of passengers the Corporation estimates to transport during the yuletide, he said: “We have an average of 20,000 passengers every day that will ride the train free of charge. So approximately, we are going to carry about 340,000 passengers over the period. We are expecting this to last until early January. So today, on average, we’ve done 20,000 across the routes where the free train ride is happening.
“The routes are Abuja-Kaduna route, Lagos-Ibadan route, Port Harcourt-Aba route, Lagos-Mass Transit route, and Wari-Itakpe route. Today, all the routes went seamlessly. The passengers boarded those with tickets and those without tickets. The ones without tickets were profiled.”
To ensure seamless operation, the MD appealed to passengers to be orderly and get to the station at least 45 minutes before departure time.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians and our passengers to be orderly. I encourage all Nigerians who want to travel to make their travel plans early and book online. The tickets are available. It makes it easy for us to allow them to board if they have a ticket. And importantly, please, they should ensure they have a valid identification; NIN, international passport, or a valid driver’s licence.
“This initiative is to show that the federal government is trying to ease the burden of the masses. The palliative is one of the ways the federal government is trying to do this.”
On measures put in place to control crowd and ensure security, Iloanusi said: “We have beefed up our security. We have also improved on buying tickets. So for instance, a passenger will be unable to buy more than two tickets at a time. We have put that in place to ensure that people don’t buy multiple tickets at the same time.
“We are trying in terms of crowd control. We have put together extra security. Our staff too are trying on their part to make sure that there is orderliness. But importantly for me, I urge Nigerians and everybody who wants to enjoy this free train ride to come to the station on time, at least 45 minutes to an hour before departure time. Have your tickets, a valid means of identification, obey the rules and if you are asked to queue, queue. We will accommodate as many people as we can.”
A public servant, Isah Slaisu, who rode the train from Rigasa in Kaduna state, commended the federal government for the initiative. He, however, called for orderliness.
“This is a very good initiative by the federal government and this has put smiles on so many faces. This has also saved me some money that can be used for other things. What I noticed is a lack of order. I hope in the coming days, it will be addressed”.
Another passenger, Maria Balogun, condemned the booking process and appealed that the payment option be restored if the process wasn’t orderly.
She alleged that some staff deliberately made the booking online difficult for intending passengers.
“I feel the booking process is not tidy. I attempted to book my ticket online but several atheists failed. I had to go to the station to get a ticket and the process was not easy because of the crowd. Some passengers who were desperate to get space on the train had to pay the staff to board.
“There is a need for proper measures to also control crowd. While we were boarding today, the rush led to the passengers destroying one of the exit doors at the station.”
Reacting to the complaints, Mr. Iloanusi promised to address the issues in the coming days.
