Passengers hail NRC’s 50% Eid fare discount as programme ends

Passengers who benefited from the Federal Government’s 50 per cent fare discount on Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) train services have commended the initiative, describing it as a major relief that made travel more affordable during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration. The fare discount programme, which commenced on May 26 and ended on June 2, was approved by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation to ease the burden of transportation costs on Nigerians during the festive period. Many passengers who travelled on various NRC routes, including the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna train services, praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Transportation for what they described as a people-oriented intervention. According to the passengers, the reduced fares enabled many families to travel comfortably and safely for the Sallah celebration while significantly reducing transportation expenses. Several travellers noted that the initiative attracted more people to rail transportation, with many first-time passengers taking advantage of the discounted fares to experience train travel. The programme also witnessed increased patronage across major train corridors, with some services recording full bookings as passengers rushed to take advantage of the special offer. Speaking at different train stations, passengers expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and urged that the initiative be sustained and extended to future festive periods. “This is the first time we have enjoyed such a generous fare reduction on train services. It helped many Nigerians and we hope it becomes a regular programme during major celebrations,” one passenger said. Another traveller described the gesture as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of citizens through affordable transportation. Industry observers have also noted that the programme further boosted public confidence in rail transportation and reinforced the growing role of the railway sector in Nigeria’s transportation system. With the successful conclusion of the fare discount exercise, many passengers are hopeful that similar interventions will be introduced in the future to encourage greater use of rail transport and make travel more affordable for Nigerians. The Nigerian Railway Corporation expressed appreciation to passengers for their patronage during the period and reiterated its commitment to providing safe, reliable and efficient rail services across the country.