President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of free rides on the Abuja metro rail to the end of 2024.
Tinubu gave the approval on Wednesday when he flagged off the metro rail operations.
The president said the gesture will “give the people hope and reason to celebrate”.
Last Thursday, Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), said the Abuja light rail would offer free rides for two months.
Wike said the free rides would commence on Tuesday, adding that it is part of the president’s renewed hope agenda for residents of the FCT.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the rail line on July 12, 2018.
However, it packed up shortly after, due to vandalism.
Some days after his inauguration as minister, Wike promised to fund the rail line’s rehabilitation contract.
In October 2023, the federal executive council (FEC) approved N5.5 billion to fund access road construction for communities along the rail project.
