Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at the Warri train station in Delta State for two days due to a breakdown of the free train service, which was introduced for the festive season.
The incident has caused growing frustration among travelers.
Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as the crowd continued to grow, with many passengers expressing dissatisfaction over the delayed response to the issue, which they blamed on poor maintenance of the service.
“This is really frustrating. We’ve been here for two days now,” one stranded passenger said. “Maybe because it’s a free service, they don’t think it deserves proper attention.”
The free train service, launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of the government’s initiative to make travel easier during the holidays, was originally designed to allow citizens to travel at no cost between December 20 and January 5.
Initially, the initiative was well-received, with many seeing it as a thoughtful gesture by the government.
However, the breakdown at the Warri station has overshadowed the service, leaving many passengers disappointed.
“While we appreciate the government’s initiative, this situation has caused more problems than solutions,” another passenger said.
“We need action to get the train fixed and resume our journey.”
As of the latest reports, there has been no official statement regarding the cause of the breakdown or when the service will be restored.
Passengers are calling on the government and relevant authorities to prioritize the repairs and assist those affected by the delay.
