The Osun State Government on Sunday said its free train service for holidaymakers during festive periods has not been cancelled.
The government also said the new administration of Senator Ademola Adeleke could not provide the service this festive period due to certain hiccups it encountered in the planning and execution of the initiative.
It should be noted that, for the first time since 2011, the state government did not provide a free train service for people travelling to Osun from Lagos and Ogun to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.
The initiative, introduced by the administration of ex-governor Rauf Aregbesola, ran throughout his tenure as governor, while his successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, also continued with it when he became governor in 2018.
The governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in a reaction to an inquiry on the train service, said, “You will recall that his Excellency (Senator Ademola Adeleke) promised to continue any good initiative of the previous government.
“The circumstances of the assumption of office, however, created little hiccups in planning and execution. As a result, the free ride is not cancelled.
“The challenges are the teething problems associated with a new government just settling down.”
