- Says passenger activity on Abuja/Kaduna remains suspended
By Demi Adeniyi
The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation on Wednesday, debunked speculations that it has suspended passenger train services on all its train stations.
It said services was suspended only on the Abuja/Kaduna passenger train service, in line with the Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Sambo’s directive, until all passenger held hostage by the bandits are all released and additional security systems installed to forestall reoccurrence.
The NRC has three Standard Gauge operational lines, which are: Abuja/Kaduna, Itakpe/Ajaokuta/Warri and Lagos/Ibadan. This is besides the two narrow gauge trunk networks: the Western and the Eastern Rail lines.
The NRC’s clarification was contained in a statement which came barely 48 hours after five more lucky passengers on the ill-fated train attacked on March 28, 2022 secured their release from their abductors after 198 days in hostage.
According to the management, both the Warri-Itakpe train service and the Lagos-Ibadan are still fully operational and running on schedule, while there is a temporary suspension of the passenger train stoppage at Ajaokuta Station following communal clashes in the area.
The statement by the NRC management said, “NRC did not ground its train operations as speculated in some quarters. The Warri- ltakpe train service is fully operational as scheduled, however, there is a temporary suspension of the passenger train stoppage at Ajaokuta station due to communal clashes pending restoration of peace in the area.
“Similarly, in compliance with the Minister’s directive, the Abuja to Kaduna passenger train service remains suspended until all the passengers held hostage as a result of the train attack by the bandits are released and the additional security system is put in place to avoid reoccurrence.
It added that operations on the Lagos to Kano express passenger train will remain suspended following suspected bandits presence along the Minna to Kaduna rail corridor in the North Western district of the Corporation.