By Fidelis Ugbomeh
Some passengers who enjoyed the free train ride introduced by Federal government during just concluded Yuletide to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal have applauded the management of the programme by officials of Nigerian Railway Corporation.
This is even as others complained that some coaches were jamparked with passengers standing and gasping for breath during transit from Lagos to Ibadan.
The programme started from December 20, 2024 to January 5, 2025 and all passengers who either booked online or on the spot to board the standard/narrow gauge railway trains were allowed to enter the trains.
According to one of the passengers Mrs. Josephine Ikhafia, “I boarded the Kajola to Apapa passenger shuttle train with my grandson who never entered a train in the morning at Lateef Jakande railway station Abgado at about 7.00a.m and returned with the Lagos-Ibadan passenger train by 8.45a.m”.
She explained that “the free train ride offered opportunity for me to take the boy for site seeing on train and he was so excited”.
In his own case, Mr. Francis Ojionu said that the management of this year’s train ride provided opportunity for every Tom, Dick and Harry to enter the train.
He said that passengers who could not book online were given oppornuty to book instantly on the spot provided they could provide their National Identity Cards
“The Lagos-Ibadan passenger train which was partially patronised before the free train ride was filled to the brim
“All the seats were occupied to the extent that some passengers stood up throughout duration of the two and half hours journey from Lagos to Ibadan,” Ojionu disclosed.
He noted that there were no cases of officials of the corporation conniving to collect money from desperate passengers adding that officials even rejected money from passengers who did not arrive early enough to gain entry into the terminal after expiration of 30 minutes allowed for passengers to enter the terminal before arrival of the train.
Ojionu posited that that there should be passenger control measures introduced to limit the number of passengers that should embark on each free train ride for health reasons.
He stated that this has also become necessary in order to avoid stampede which characterised the free train ride adding that some passengers fell on the staircase (during stampede) while trying to gain entry into the terminal at Lateef Jakande Terminal, Agbado.
Mr. Susan Egwu however said that as much as the gesture should continue as long as fuel/diesel prices remain high, it should be extended to public holidays during the end of year celebrations.
According to him, “I went to the Babatunde Fashola railway terminal at Agege on December 25, 2024 with the ulterior motive of joining my family at Ibadan only to be informed that the trains did not operate on public holidays”.
“What is the essence of the free train ride when on Christmas and New year days the trains did not operate,” he said.