As part of the effort to ensure that the good people of Oyo State enjoy unlimited and quality service of the recently completed biggest railway project in South West, Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi has pleaded for the reduction in railway tickets.
Senator Akanbi also solicited for the increase in passengers service on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail from one to two rounds daily which was welcomed by Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
Senator Akanbi said the reduction in fare and increase in daily trips will no doubt increase the economic potential of the two states and encourage people of Oyo State to travel more by rail system.
Mr. Amaechi assured Senator Akanbi and good people Oyo and Lagos States when he resumed assessment of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway project that the service would be increased from one trip per day to two trips.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had in December, 2020 commenced passengers service from Lagos to Ibadan with one daily round trip taking off from Ibadan to Lagos.
However, Mr. Amaechi assured passengers and stakeholders that the service would increase to two daily trips within before the end of first quarter 2021. Mr. Amaechi also expressed his deep satisfaction with the level of work done on the project so far.
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Amaechi spoke just as the Nigerian Railway Corporation took delivery of 10 new locomotives and 44 new coaches.
While giving the breakdown how the how the sector would utilize the facilities, The Managing Director, NRC, Engr Fidet Okhiria said three of the locomotives would be deployed for passenger services while the remaining seven will be used for freight services.
Engr Okhiria commended Senator Akanbi for the has been playing ever since the project kicked off to ensure that the good people of Oyo State benefit immensely from the project.
