Tag: Rail Service

Activist, Mahdi Shehu, dismisses ₦1tr Kano rail project as ‘political deception’

Aminu Imam
Mahdi on Kano rail project

Social activist, Muhammad Mahdi Shehu has described the Federal Government’s purported approval of a ₦1 trillion Metropolitan Rail Service for Kano State as political deception, questioning the credibility and substance of the announced project. Shehu’s reaction follows claims by Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, that the Tinubu administration had approved the rail project shortly after the governor’s political realignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Governor Yusuf disclosed the project on Thursday, while addressing members of the Kano State contingent at the 2025 National Qur’anic Recitation Competition in…

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Six injured, as Abuja–Kaduna train derails, service suspended

Aminu Imam
Abuja–KD train derails

…Tinubu reacts, as NSIB launches probe Panic gripped passengers yesterday after a Kaduna-bound train derailed near Asham Station, Abuja, leaving six people injured and forcing the suspension of the busy Abuja–Kaduna rail service. The Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC), confirmed the derailment, which occurred at about 11:09 a.m. along the corridor, saying emergency teams were immediately mobilised. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as passengers scrambled out of the tipped coaches, fearing the worst. Although NRC spokesman Yakub Mahmood, initially stated that “there was no casualty,” the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB)…

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Kaduna–Kano rail to be completed by 2026 – FG

Aminu Imam
Kaduna–Kano rail

The Federal Government has announced that the much-anticipated Kaduna–Kano standard gauge rail line, along with the Kano–Maraɗi rail corridor connecting Nigeria to Niger Republic, will be completed by 2026. Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’id Alkali, made this known during a strategic meeting with Governor Uba Sani, of Kaduna State. He reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to expanding critical infrastructure as a driver of economic growth and regional integration. Governor Sani, while applauding the Federal Government’s support, revealed that President Tinubu has approved ₦100 billion for the Kaduna Light…

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FG announces free train rides for Nigerians from Dec. 20 to Jan. 5

Aminu Imam
FG on free train rides

The Federal Government has announced a free train ride for any Nigerian wishing to travel to celebrate the Christmas festivities. Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the announcement yesterday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting. He noted that the free train ride will commence from 20th December, 2024, and end on 5th January, 2025. According to Idris, Nigerians can access the train rides on all the routes where train services are currently being rendered.

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Lagos-Kano rail begins freight operations in June – FG

Aminu Imam
Lagos Kano train service

The Federal Government has announced that the Lagos-Kano narrow-gauge rail line is set to begin freight services. The contractors revealed this during the visit of the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali, to the site for an on-the-spot inspection of the project in Kano State on Thursday. This follows an update from the contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, indicating that the line has been connected to the Zawaciki Dala Dry Port in Kano, the commercial hub of the State. The Minister stated that starting freight operations would extend the lifespan…

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NRC to launch e-ticketing for train trips next week

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC), has announced that it will launch electronic ticketing (e-ticketing) on its standard gauge network next week. The NRCs Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, who made the announcement while fielding questions on a television programme yesterday, said that the last leg of the testing of the platform will be accomplished yesterday, when it is expected to go live to a restricted number of people for last-minute glitches before it is opened to the general public. He noted that e-ticketing will put an end to the challenges observed in…

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Abuja-Kaduna train: COVID-19 my worry, not security – El-Rufai

Ishaku Yohanna

The governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has said security is not an issue on the Abuja-Kaduna rail service but that of people obeying the federal governments COVID-19 guidelines. Mr El-Rufai made this disclosure while briefing journalists on Saturday at the test-running operation trip of the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC) in Kaduna. The train is secure, the train is well protected, even the Abuja-Kaduna highway is well protected, there has not been a kidnapping case there since October last year. So, Im not worried about security. What I want to…

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