Osun’s Free Train Ride for Sallah Leaves Lagos Tuesday

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Osun State Government yesterday announced the year 2016 Eid il-Fitri free train ride scheduled to commence on Tuesday July 5.

According to the government, the free train ride is in line with the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s tradition to facilitate convenient movement of its citizen in and out of the state during the festive season.

‎

A statement from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment disclosed that the free train would start on Tuesday and end on Saturday.

The statement said that the free train would convey people from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday 5th July by11am.

Similarly, the return journey from Osogbo to Lagos was fixed for Saturday 9th July at 11am prompt.

According to the statement, the provision of the free train ride is with a view to facilitating a hitch-free homecoming during the Muslim festival period. Similar gesture had been introduced during eid el-Kabir, Christmas and Easter periods.

“This gesture is from the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to the people, to provide the opportunity for indigenes and non-indigenes, who would like to visit the state during the festive period.

“The free train ride commences with the ascension to power of Aregbesola in 2010 and has been a regular gesture from his government to the people during Christian and Muslim festival periods since 2011.

“This government wants transportation comfort for its citizens, who hitherto normally encounter hardship and fare hikes during the festive periods,” the statement noted.

The government therefore enjoined people from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States to utilise the free train opportunity offered by the Aregbesola government to come home and celebrate the Sallah with their relatives.