Tinubu Declares Newly Commissioned Abuja Rail Transit Free

The Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also known as Metro Line, will offer free rides till the end of the year, Nigerian President declared on Wednesday during the commissioning of the project as part of activities marking his one year anniversary since assumption of office.

“Our dear landlord and his team, I heard you saying two months free ride. I appeal to you to make it till the end of the year free ride, since today you are not going to charge me. Let me give the people hope and reason to celebrate,” the Nigerian leader who was inaugurated May 29, 2023 stated.

Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State South West Nigeria had during his inauguration speech last year declared that “subsidy is gone”, bringing to an end the payment of subsidy by the government on Importation of petroleum products.

He had introduced measures to mitigate the effects of the policy, which among other things include high transportation cost and inflation.

The rail transit system and proposed introduction of CNG buses are some immediate interventions to alleviate sufferings associated with movement of persons and goods across cities in the West African nation.

At the project commissioning, the President also commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike for delivering the project, describing him as Mr Project.

“Today, what we have in the FCT is another piece of evidence that we are a government that delivers on promises. I observe keenly other milestones that this administration has achieved especially in the areas of social services and other public utilities.”

Wike had on May 23, said the facility would offer Nigerians a two-month free ride, which was extended by the President.

The rail developed in six phases, was funded with loans from the China EXIM Bank.

Earlier commissioned by Tinubu’s predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari on July 12, 2018, it soon ended operations arising from vandalism.