President Tinubu Extends Free Rides on Abuja Light Rail Till Year Ends

President Bola Tinubu has announced an extension of free rides on the Abuja Light Rail until the end of this year. 

This decision was made public during a special event that marked the resumption of the rail service. 

The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Initially, Minister Wike announced two months of free transportation for this new rail service at a briefing on the president’s first year in office. 

Tinubu Extends Free Rail Service

However, in response to public enthusiasm and in a gesture aimed at further supporting the community, President Tinubu extended this period to the entire year.

He expressed his intention to give residents more reasons to celebrate during these times.

“Our dear Landlord, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), I have heard you say there will be free train rides for two months. I want to appeal to you to make it until the end of the year. Let us give the people reasons to celebrate,’’ President Tinubu said. 

This beneficial move was detailed in a statement released by Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. 

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It highlights the government’s commitment to enhancing public infrastructure and making commuting easier for everyone.

The Abuja Metro Line, which was initially introduced in 2018 but was not operational due to the lack of essential roads, has now been fully activated following the completion of these necessary infrastructures. 

The access roads project, costing N21.4 billion, was expedited with a significant payment of $30 million to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation by top financial officials, ensuring the project’s completion within nine months.

With 12 trains, each capable of carrying 700 passengers and making 14 trips per day, the rail system is set to transform daily travel in the capital. 

According to Chinedu Elechi, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Transportation, the service is expected to handle nearly 980,000 passengers monthly.

At the launch, President Tinubu, along with Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and other dignitaries, celebrated this milestone with a 40-minute inaugural ride from the metro station to the airport station, symbolizing a new era in the capital’s public transportation network.