As part of its continued commitment to the welfare and well-being of the people, the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has announced this year’s free train ride for the Easter celebration.

A statement issued Tuesday by the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Industry and Empowerment said the free train ride would convey people coming for the Easter festival from Lagos to Osogbo on Friday, March 25, by 10am.

A return train will depart Osogbo to Lagos on Monday, March 28 by 11 am, the statement said. It noted that the government did this to ease movements of the people during period of the festivity and enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the advantage the free train ride offers them to visit home and enjoy the celebration.

The statement said: “This tradition of free train ride as introduced by the Aregbesola government about five years ago is aimed at facilitating the easy movement of the citizenry wherever they are.

“And this programme takes care of both Islamic and Christian festivities. Since its commencement, we can say confidently that it has been a boost to the economy of the state.

“It is this ease during festival periods that informed the introduction of the scheme by Governor Aregbesola.

“Therefore, it is the wish of government that our people from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states would seize this window of opportunity by Aregbesola’s government to visit home and celebrate with their relatives.”