Few days to the festival, the government of Osun State on Sunday announced that it had concluded arrangements for 2017 Eid-il-Kabir free train ride from Lagos to Osogbo.
The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, said the gesture was in furtherance of Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration’s commitment to the welfare of the ordinary people who deserved the support of the government.
Jayeoba-Alagbada’s statement explained that the free train was expected to move from Lagos twice to Osogbo and would operate only one trip for the post-Sallah return journey.
“The first train moves from Lagos on Wednesday August 30th, 2017 at exactly 10am from the Iddo Terminus, Lagos enroute our usual Ikeja, through Ogun and Oyo State to end the journey in Osogbo.
“Another one leaves at the same time on Thursday August 31st, 2017 through the same route down to Osogbo.
“After the Eil-il-kabir celebration, the train leaves Osogbo on Sunday September 3rd, 2017 for Lagos. “This, we have concluded as the plan for this year’s Eid-il-kabir festival,” the statement said.
Jayeoba-Alagbada expressed the hope that the free train provided by the government would give Osun indigenes in particular the opportunities to return home in order to savour the joy of the festival with their relatives.
“This is one of the social protection projects of the Aregbesola administration and since we commenced this more than six years ago, we have not looked back. Even in the face of very harsh financial constraints, we have strived to keep this offer going convinced that it has offered great opportunities for our people and helped their finances as well,” Jayeoba-Alagbada.
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