Christmas: For the first time since 2011, Osun fails to provide free train service

For the first time since 2011, the free train service sponsored by the Osun State Government for commuters travelling to the state from Lagos and Ogun to celebrate Christmas and the New Year was not provided.

The initiative, introduced by the administration of former governor Rauf Aregbesola, and it ran throughout his tenure.

His successor, Adegboyega Oyetola, also maintained the tradition when he became the governor in 2018.

Oyetola administration had commenced plans towards the free train service before the government exited on November 25, when Senator Ademola Adeleke was inaugurated as the new governor.

It could not, however, be immediately ascertained why the free train service, said to have been initiated by a former commissioner for commerce and industry, Dr Bode Olaonipekun, was discontinued by the Adeleke administration.

When contacted on Friday by The Punch, the spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, promised to ask relevant officials of government on what was being done regarding the initiative.

Subsequent calls to his mobile phone line did not go through and he had yet to reply to a text message sent to him as of the time of filing this report on Saturday.