The Osun State government has called on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to extend its train services beyond Oyo State to enhance economic activities in the region.
Bunmi Jenyo, the state’s Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, made the request during a welcome ceremony for passengers arriving on the state-sponsored Imole Free Train Service in Osogbo, the state capital.
In a statement released by the ministry’s Information Officer, Ademiotan Adegbulugbe, Jenyo highlighted Governor Ademola Adeleke’s vision of modernizing the state’s rail infrastructure and connecting Osun to neighboring regions.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke is committed to ensuring that train services, which currently do not extend beyond Oyo State, are expanded to Osun and beyond,” Jenyo said. “This will alleviate the stress of road travel. Train services around the world are timely and efficient.”
Jenyo noted that the free train service, which brought holidaymakers from Lagos to Osogbo, was a step toward offering affordable and convenient transportation options to residents. He also pointed out the need for improvements to the rail line, particularly in light of the recent upgrades to the Lagos-Ibadan corridor.
“This is not a regular service, and the NRC has significant work to do to improve the rail infrastructure,” Jenyo said. “The governor is also planning for a metropolitan train system in the future.”
He encouraged visitors to explore Osun’s development projects during their stay, stressing the governor’s efforts to transform both the state capital and the wider region. “The governor’s impact is visible across all 332 wards in the state,” Jenyo added.
The Imole Free Train Service, which carried passengers from Ido, Lagos State, to Osogbo, arrived on Tuesday evening. The initiative is part of Osun’s broader strategy to ease holiday travel and promote tourism.
