May 29, (THEWILL) – President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, flagged off the Abuja Light Rail signalling the commencement of Commercial operations of the Rail Mass Transit, popularly called Abuja Metro.
“This flag-off of the commencement of commercial operations is part of celebrations marking the first year anniversary of the Administration of President Bola Tinubu”, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said last week when he declared that the Metro Rail will operate free for two months after its commissioning.
Speaking at the re-launch on Wednesday, President Tinubu announced the extension of free rides on the Metro Rail for the rest of 2024.
He also commended the FCT Minister for delivering the project, describing him as Mr Project.
“Our dear landlord and his team, I heard you saying two months free ride. I appeal to you to make it till the end of the year free ride, since today you are not going to charge me. Let me give the people hope and reason to celebrate.
“Today, what we have in the FCT is another piece of evidence that we are a government that delivers on promises. I keenly observe other milestones that this administration has achieved, especially in the areas of social services and other public utilities”, he said.
Completed and launched on July 12, 2018, under the Buhari Administration, the Metro Rail ceased operations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, after extensive refurbishment efforts led by FCT Minister, Wike including investing $15 million and constructing access roads to various stations, the Abuja Metro formally resumed commercial operations with the re-launch on Wednesday.
The rail developed in six phases, was funded with loans from the China EXIM Bank.
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