The Osun State government has announced the cancellation of its annual free train ride, popularly known as the “Imole Train services for the Sallah festival.”
This decision comes as a result of ongoing repairs being carried out on the damaged rail track between Abeokuta and Lagos by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Mrs. Kehinde Odediran, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives, and Empowerment, released a statement on Monday to provide details about the cancellation.
The statement highlighted that a part of the train track was affected by an accident, resulting in the suspension of all train operations on the Lagos-Abeokuta line.
Furthermore, it was confirmed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has initiated repair and rehabilitation work to address the damage. However, the ongoing repairs, as reported by the NRC, have made it impossible to accommodate the annual free train service this year.
It reads; “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 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 Adeleke’s 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”.
The cancellation of the Imole Free Train service for the Sallah festival is undoubtedly disappointing news for the residents of Osun State and those who had planned to utilize the service for their holiday travel.
However, the government’s decision prioritizes the safety and well-being of passengers by ensuring that necessary repairs are carried out before resuming train operations.
As the Nigerian Railway Corporation continues its efforts to restore the damaged rail track, commuters and festival-goers are encouraged to seek alternative means of transportation during this festive season.
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