by Kingseyi Sun Aug 19, 2018 3:28 pmHundreds of Osun-bound passengers, who had
gathered at the Iddo Terminal of the Nigerian
Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos for the free
train ride of the Osun Government ahead of the
Sallah, were stranded on Sunday.
Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun
state
Newsmen report that the huge number of
passengers who turned out for the free ride were
more than the available coaches.
Some of the stranded passengers, who spoke to
newsmen, said they were pained at not making
the trip.
They, however, commended the governor’s
gesture.
Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos State District Manager
of NRC, said that the passengers available for
the gesture were more than the available
coaches.
Oche, however, said that special train ride
would continue on Monday to convey the
remaining passengers going for the Eid-el-Kabir
to Osogbo as arranged by the governor.
“The first train ride left today(Sunday) at 8:38
am because of the crowd on the ground.
“We don’t want a situation where the train will
be overcrowded, another train will move the
remaining passengers tomorrow (Monday) with
15 coaches.
“We have moved 10 coaches today and each
coach contains 96 passengers; by tomorrow,
it will make a total of 25 coaches to Osun, ” he
said.
Mr Lawal Ahmed, an artisan, told newsmen he
was shocked when he got to the terminal to see
the crowd and was told the train had left.
“The NRC should increase the number of
coaches to enable the passengers to enjoy the
train services,’’ he said.
Mrs Sade Saidu said in spite of her early arrival
at the terminal, she was not lucky to be on
board.
“I was told the train left early this morning but
they said another train is moving passengers
tomorrow to Osun, I will try and join that
tomorrow, ” she said.
Newsmen report that many travellers had
pleaded with the state government to provide
more coaches or extend the days allotted for the
exercise.
gathered at the Iddo Terminal of the Nigerian
Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos for the free
train ride of the Osun Government ahead of the
Sallah, were stranded on Sunday.
Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun
state
Newsmen report that the huge number of
passengers who turned out for the free ride were
more than the available coaches.
Some of the stranded passengers, who spoke to
newsmen, said they were pained at not making
the trip.
They, however, commended the governor’s
gesture.
Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos State District Manager
of NRC, said that the passengers available for
the gesture were more than the available
coaches.
Oche, however, said that special train ride
would continue on Monday to convey the
remaining passengers going for the Eid-el-Kabir
to Osogbo as arranged by the governor.
“The first train ride left today(Sunday) at 8:38
am because of the crowd on the ground.
“We don’t want a situation where the train will
be overcrowded, another train will move the
remaining passengers tomorrow (Monday) with
15 coaches.
“We have moved 10 coaches today and each
coach contains 96 passengers; by tomorrow,
it will make a total of 25 coaches to Osun, ” he
said.
Mr Lawal Ahmed, an artisan, told newsmen he
was shocked when he got to the terminal to see
the crowd and was told the train had left.
“The NRC should increase the number of
coaches to enable the passengers to enjoy the
train services,’’ he said.
Mrs Sade Saidu said in spite of her early arrival
at the terminal, she was not lucky to be on
board.
“I was told the train left early this morning but
they said another train is moving passengers
tomorrow to Osun, I will try and join that
tomorrow, ” she said.
Newsmen report that many travellers had
pleaded with the state government to provide
more coaches or extend the days allotted for the
exercise.
