The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced free train services across the country from December 20, 2024, to January 5, 2025, as part of the Christmas celebrations. This decision was made during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, and was confirmed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
While the specifics of the free train services have yet to be detailed in an official press release, Idris explained that the initiative aims to ease travel during the festive season. Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, also shared the announcement on his official social media account, noting that a similar initiative was carried out last year. However, no additional information on the scope or logistics of the service has been provided at this time.
This announcement follows an earlier statement from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which plans to operate special train services for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. While the NRC has not yet disclosed full details on the schedules, the special train services are expected to mirror the previous year’s initiative, where the government introduced free train rides from December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
The 2024 free train services are expected to provide Nigerians with affordable and convenient travel options, continuing efforts to ease the financial strain during the holiday season.
