From News Editor
President Bola Tinubu has declared free train rides nationwide for commuters from the 20th of this month till January 5, 2025.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this while briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the President on Monday at the State House in Abuja.
He said the President approved the measure to cushion the effect of high cost of transportation during the Christmas season.
A similar measure was in place last year during the Yuletide and Sallah.
Meanwhile, the FEC has approved the renaming of the University of Abuja after former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (RTD). UNIABUJA is now to be known as Yakubu Gowon University, subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
“The Federal Executive Council meeting just ended with members of the executive council commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for stewardship of the state for the last one year.
“Members of the Federal Executive Council also reiterated their commitment and support for his programmes and the leadership of Mr President.
“It’s a brief one today. Not many items on the agenda. The first one is the 2025 budget that will be presented to the National Assembly.
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“The Federal Executive Council will proceed on recess from the 18th of this month until the 6th of January, meaning there won’t be any Federal Executive Council meeting during that period.
“The government is also happy to announce that, as we did last year, there will be free train service to all Nigerians from the 20th up until the 5th of January.
“This is consistent with the President’s desire to cushion the effect of transportation, officially the most vulnerable Nigerians.
“Recall that this also happened in the last Christmas period and the Sallah period. And Mr President has also approved that this year, from the 20th of December to the fifth of January, there will be free transport service nationwide.
“The third item is that there’s also a decision taken by the Federal Executive Council to rename the University of Abuja to honour elder statesman, General Yakubu Gowon.
“The University of Abuja will now be known as Yakubu Gowon University. Of course, the processing will have to go to the National Assembly, for all legislation in that direction.
“But FEC has taken that decision to write to the National Assembly to change the name of the University of Abuja to Yakubu Gowon University, in honour of the former head of state and elder statesman.”
He announced that FEC will be proceeding on recess for the year. {The Nation}
