The federal government on Friday commenced the free train ride nationwide to ease the high cost of transportation for passengers across the country during yuletide.
The acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Ben Iloanusi while welcoming the first set of passengers who arrived at the Kubwa train station in Abuja from Rigasa, said concerns were raised on safety on the first day of the ride.
He however said the Corporation was taking measures to address security concerns raised by passengers.
Speaking further, he revealed that “the free ride will accommodate 20,000 passengers on a daily basis as the federal government is estimating to provide free ride to 340,000 passengers before the free ride initiative expires in the first week of January.”
He added that the ride would be operating smoothly in the five locations namely: Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe, Portharcourt/Aba and Lagos Mass Transit.
Asked what NRC is doing to tackle racketeering, he said, “The portal has been up and running and measures have been put in place to prevent people from buying multiple tickets.”