By Olayinka Ajayi

Rising living costs without a commensurate increase in income have become the daily reality for many Nigerians. One such significant burden is transportation – a challenge that Youth Province 1 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in partnership with other youth provinces across Lagos, is addressing by providing free transportation to and from work for a period of time.

This initiative, now in its second year, was first launched last year and ran from October to December, offering much-needed relief amid rising expenses. The free-bus-to-work programme, which deploys About 10 long yellow buses, has conveyed hundreds of people each day, transporting them to and from designated bus stops in the mornings and evenings.

This year’s edition took place from 24th November to 5th December. Morning routes included R.C.C.G. Jesus’s Palace (Festac) to CMS, Oworonshoki to CMS, Redemption City to 7UP, Redemption City to Sagamu, Redemption City to Trinity Towers (Vi), Redemption City to Agege, and Ikorodu to Maryland. Beyond the morning trips, the church also provided free return journeys in the evenings, expending about 40 million naira on the initiative.

Speaking on the initiative, the Pastor-in-Charge of Youth Province 1, Pastor Oluwagbemileke Adeboye, said, “This initiative is our way of lending a hand to people. We did it last year and witnessed the massive relief it provided, so we decided to do it again this year in collaboration with Youth Provinces 2, 7, 14, 18, and 20 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. We also find the journeys a meaningful way to start or wrap up the day – sharing God’s Word and praying as we set out or return from work. It’s open to all, regardless of tribe and religion.”

Assisted by Pastor Martins Olusakin, the Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of the Province (CSR), and Pastor Abiodun Famojuro, the Assistant Pastor-in-Charge of the Province (Administration), Youth Province 1 is actively preparing and counting down to the R.C.C.G. Holy Ghost Congress, scheduled for the second week of December.

News about the free buses has spread quickly by word of mouth, with many beneficiaries taking to social media to commend the church for its generosity and support. The gratitude of commuters is evident in their smiles and relieved sighs as the church continues to extend this support to many.