Sallah travel: Over 3,000 holidaymakers arrive in Osun via free train service – Commissioner
Osun State Government has said its festive free train services for this year’s ed el kabir festival were the most successful so far, as over 3,000 holidaymakers who joined the train from Lagos arrived in the state.
Osun State Government has said its festive free train services for this year’s ed el kabir festival were the most successful so far, as over 3,000 holidaymakers who joined the train from Lagos arrived in the state.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bunmi Jenyo after receiving the holidaymakers who arrived at Osogbo Train Station late on Tuesday.
A statement signed by the Information Officer of the Ministry, Ademiotan Adegbulugbe obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, stated that Jenyo, who was flanked by some top officials of the Ministry, commended the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, for sustaining the initiative despite the financial challenges confronting his administration.
He said, “This is the most successful trip in the last three years that we have given this administration free train services to the holidaymakers.
“We recorded over 3,000 passengers which is the largest ever from Ido Lagos State to Osogbo. As you heard from one of the passengers, she is still going to Ilorin. The free train service is meant for the citizens and friends of Osun State.
“The governor has done what he usually does during the festive period. This is exceptional because we had a large crowd that joined the train, especially now that the cost of road transportation is very high.”
He noted the appreciation shown by the beneficiaries of the initiative to the governor, saying the Adeleke administration also temporarily opened two bridges within Osogbo, the state capital, during the festival period to ease intra-city movement.
Declaring that the Adeleke administration will not relent, but will sustain and further expand the festive free train services, Jenyo said that through the initiative, the beneficiaries have been relieved of the financial stress of expensive road transportation.
“The people have been praying for the governor to have another term in office so that he can continue to serve them. I want to use this opportunity to extend my sincere appreciation to the governor for supporting the citizens through this initiative despite so many challenges facing the administration.
“He has continued to discharge his duties as the governor and the people appreciate it. Besides these free train services, the governor also directed that the two bridges within Osogbo be opened to traffic to ease people’s movement,” Jenyo further said.
During their stay in the state, Jenyo charged the holidaymakers “To go round the state and see the good work that the governor is doing across Osun. Some of them are not usually around us here, so I want to encourage them to move around and see different initiatives being executed by the current administration in the state.
“They must have been hearing it through the news but they have the opportunity to see for themselves during this visit.”
A beneficiary, Mrs Alimot Akeem, during a chat told The PUNCH that she was going to Ilorin, Kwara State, and commended Adeleke for providing the services for the travellers.
The PUNCH reported on April 6, 2026, that the Osun State Government received over 600 holidaymakers who returned to the state for the Easter celebrations, through the free train services provided by the Ademola Adeleke administration.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotosho, who received those who joined the train on behalf of the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Bunmi Jenyo, at the Osogbo Train Station, said the gesture was to allow Osun people in other states to return home and celebrate Easter with their loved ones.
Omotosho noted that the free train has cushioned the effect of the high cost of road transportation, adding that some of the beneficiaries may not be able to afford the cost of travelling without the initiative.
He said that “apart from those who completed the journey to Osogbo, several passengers who joined the train in Lagos had disembarked at various stops in Ogun and Oyo states.”
The festive free train services were introduced in 2011 by the then-governor, Rauf Aregbesola.
