For the first time in 12 years, the Osun State Government will not be providing free train ride for indigenes traveling from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States to Osun for Eid-l-kabir festival, InsightMedia has gathered.
The free train ride initiative, which started in the year 2012 under the administration of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has been been a regular programme for government during both Muslim and Christian festivals.
The ride is provided during Christmas, New Year, Eid-l-fitr, Easter and Eid-l-kabir festivals. It did take off from Lagos and land in Osogbo before the festival, and will after the festival move from Osogbo to Lagos.
Announcing the development on Monday, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Cooperative and Empowerment, Mrs Kehinde Odediran blamed the development on “accident”.
She said, “Osun state government regrets to announce that The annual Imole Free Train service scheduled to convey hundreds of passengers from Lagos state to Osun to mark the Eid- El- Kabir celebration will no longer hold.
The unfortunate development is as a result of serious technical issues being currently experienced by the Nigeria Railway Corporation ( NRC)
We wish to state with all sense of responsibility and in line with the ideals of Senator Ademola Adelekes annual Imole free train service that as soon as the technical hitches get rectified,normal services will resume accordingly.
We also wish to state that , notwithstanding the present unfortunate development, the administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke will continue to provide the Imole Free Train Service to all our people during all festive seasons without any let or hindrance.”
