The Federal Government (FG) has been taken to task over the absence of free train services for this 2026 Salah (‘Id al-kabiir).
The Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement captioned ‘Why Is There No Free Train Ride For Salah?’ sought to know why free train, which is always offered during Christmas, is not available for Salah.
The group ascribed this to preferential treatment and concluded that all shadows of doubts concerning FG’s discriminatory stance will be removed if another free train is offered during Christmas in December 2026.
”We have observed that the Federal Government (FG) has not announced any free train ride for this 2026 Salah (‘Id al-kabiir) which will be marked from Wednesday 27th May to Friday, 29th May, 2026.
”We waited patiently until Monday evening before issuing this statement. The Salah festival is just 48 hours away and there has been no announcement yet as far as we know as at 8.39 pm.
*”Instead of free train rides, what FG has announced is increased train services of six trips per day for Salah (https://leadership.ng/nrc-to-operate-6-train-trips-on-lagos-ibadan-for-sallah/).*
”However, as indicated in the reference above, Osun State government announced free train services as a continuation of the Rauf Aregbesola tradition. We give kudos to the government of Osun State for this.
*”We are grossly disappointed by FG’s attitude on this issue. Free train rides have been offered by FG for the past three years during Christmas and Easter. Sometimes the free rides last more than a week* (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/761753-updated-christmas-nigerian-govt-announces-free-train-ride-for-15-days.html;
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/easter-nrc-rolls-out-special-train-services-free-ride-on-lagos-osogbo-corridor/amp/;).
”Is this proper? Why is there no free train for Salah while Christmas and Easter are always favoured. What is FG trying to tell us?
”Interestingly enough, this is not the first time MURIC will complain about this discriminatory practice. We have complained before and internet has not forgotten. We complained in June 2025 yet nothing has changed. (https://punchng.com/muric-accuses-fg-of-religious-bias-over-free-train-rides/).
”Is FG trying to provoke Nigerian Muslims? It looks very much like it. If that is so, we are here to interrogate this act of neglect of the interest of Muslims.
*”All shadows of doubts concerning FG’s discriminatory stance will be removed if another free train is offered during Christmas in December 2026 after failing to do the same for Salah in May 2026. It will then become very glaring that FG has really decided to throw Nigerian Muslims under the bus.*
”FG rushes to please Nigerian Christians but treats the Muslims like third class citizens. This attitude constitutes a threat to the sense of belonging of Muslims. It challenges the unity of the country and pokes fingers of arrogance at the chest of interfaith relationship.
”For the avoidance of doubts, we are fully aware that free train ride is not a right. It is a privilege. But why was it started if it cannot be objectively applied? Why do it for Christians if it will not be done for Muslims? Why do it for Christmas if it will not be done for Salah? December 2026 is just around the corner.”