Hundreds of Osun-bound
passengers, who had massed at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Iddo
Terminal in Lagos for the free train ride provided by Osun Government for
Eid-el-Kabir, were on Thursday stranded.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
reports that the huge number of passengers who turned out for the ride
outstripped the available coaches.
The free train ride is a
collaboration between Gov. Rauf Aregbesola-led government and the NRC to convey
Osun indigenes in Lagos to Osogbo and other towns along the rail line during
festive period.
Some of the stranded passengers,
who spoke to NAN correspondent, were pained for not making the trip, but they
commended the governor’s gesture.
They pleaded with the government
to provide more coaches or extend the days allotted for the exercise to enable
intending travellers to enjoy the free ride.
Mr Saliu Ademola, an artisan,
told NAN:“I was shocked when I got to the terminal to see the crowd.
“The NRC should increase the
number of coaches to enable the passengers to enjoy the train services.”
A disappointed Mrs Taibat Lawal,
said in spite of her early arrival at the terminal in the morning, she was not
lucky to be on board.
Contacted, Mr Jerry Oche, the
Lagos District Manager, lauded the free train ride provided by Osun and called
for more coaches so that more people could benefit.
He advised stranded passengers to
join the Kano-bound train tomorrow en route to Osogbo.
NAN also reports that the normal
fare per passenger for Lagos-Osogbo trip by train is N1,500.
NAN
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