Tag: Rail Services

Train service to resume soon along Abuja-Kaduna corridor as NRC fixes bombed track

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC), on Thursday, said it has successfully completed work on the damaged portion of the Abuja-Kaduna rail track in the aftermath of the terrorists’ attack on March 28 which grounded service along the route. Recall that the attack led to the death of nine persons and the abduction of many, including an aged woman, a nursing mother, among others. According to a press statement made available to newsmen, the NRC said track access between the two cities has been achieved, although it failed to provide an…

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Kaduna residents appeal for return of Abuja-Kaduna train service

Aminu Imam

Some residents of Kaduna on Friday urged the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) authorities to expedite action on the resumption of service on the Abuja-Kaduna route. The residents made the call in separate interviews with newsmen in Kaduna. Recall that NRC had on March 29, announced an indefinite suspension of train service on the Abuja-Kaduna route following an attack on the train by terrorists. For the residents, the resumption of the train services would go a long way in easing their transport challenges. A civil servant who resides in Barnawa, Mrs.…

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FG shops for N5.9tr loan to deliver multiple rail projects over China delays

Aminu Imam

With a protracted delay from China in opening up funds for Nigeria, the federal government is turning to the British market where it expects to raise $14.4 billion (about N5.993 trillion) at least for multiple rail projects. Already, reports said the Standard Chartered Bank has agreed to offer a $3.02 billion (N1,256tr) loan to fund rail projects. There are indications that such a move could cut the exposure of the country to Chinese loans. Recall that Amaechi told Bloomberg, in June last year, that Nigeria is seeking $14.4bn loans for…

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Kano: Many passengers feared dead as train crushes trailer and tricycle

Aminu Imam

Some passengers are feared dead as a moving train crushed a trailer and commercial tricycle in Kano State. The incident occurred on Obasanjo Road in Kano metropolis at 11:30 am yesterday. According to eyewitnesses who run businesses near the rail track, the cement trailer was coming towards the rail line as the train was speeding. The witnesses said they attempted to flag down the trailer but the driver didn’t notice. “When the driver of the trailer tried to cross the rail line, the train hit the vehicle and the tricycle…

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Kano: Many passengers feared dead as train crushes trailer, tricycle

Aminu Imam

An unspecified number of passengers are feared, dead when a train in motion crushed a Dangote cement truck and a commercial tricycle in Kano State. The incident occurred on Obasanjo Road in Kano metropolis at about 11:30 am on Sunday. An eyewitness, who is a trader beside the rail track, said he noticed the truck moving towards the rail line, as the train was in motion. According to him, efforts made to flag down the trailer were not fruitful. “As the driver of the trailer attempted to cross the rail…

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“$36 billion needed to connect the entire country by rail” – Amaechi

Aminu Imam

Speaking on a television programme on Friday, Amaechi said railway is capital intensive, a situation that has made it difficult for private firms to invest in the sector. He said the reason the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been borrowing funds from overseas in recent years was because only Abuja was able to come up with the needed collateral to take such loans. When asked why the Kaduna-Abuja railway had not been linked to Lokoja, Amaechi responded: “If we had money, I would want to be the minister that…

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Yuletide: FG declares 1-week free train rides nationwide

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government, yesterday, declared free train services across the country to be enjoyed by Nigerians between December, 24 and January 4, 2022. Spokesman of the Nigeria Railway Corporation, (NRC), Mahmood Yakub, who disclosed this in an issued statement, said the free service covers all the standard-gauge and narrow-gauge services of the NRC across its network. These include the Abuja-Kaduna train service, Lagos-Ibadan train service, Warri-Itakpe, Kano-Lagos; Minna-Kaduna and Aba-Port Harcourt. The NRC Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, who also spoke on the development, said, ”The decision which was made…

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FG to generate N12.4bn from Lagos-Ibadan e-ticketing solution in 4 yrs

Aminu Imam

The acting Director-General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, (ICRC), Mike Ohiani, has stated that the Federal Government is expected to generate over N12.4 billion within the next four years courtesy of the introduction of e-ticketing solution on the Lagos-Ibadan standard train service. Ohiani, who disclosed this at the official Outline Business Case (OBC) presentation on the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Train Service and the Warri-Itakpe Standard Train Service to Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos, said the overall scope of the project is for the designing, financing, building, operation, managing the secured e-ticketing…

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FG to flag-off Kaduna-Kano railway project in 2 weeks

Aminu Imam

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that the $1.2 billion Kaduna-Kano standard-gauge rail project will be flagged-off in two weeks. This was announced by the minister during a ministerial media briefing, organised by the presidential communications team in Abuja yesterday. Recall that the federal government approved the Kaduna-Kano railway project in January 2017. Ameachi had said the federal government will borrow less than N100 billion for the project. He said while awaiting the Chinese government’s loan, one-third of the project will be funded from the Federal Government’s budget.…

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FG takes delivery of 86 new freight trains to boost rail transportation

Aminu Imam

In what can be described as another landmark for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, the Federal Government has taken the delivery of new trains that will help boost rail operations in Nigeria. The Director of Corporate Culture, CCECC Nigeria Ltd, Vincent Liu, who made this known in a video shared via his Twitter account yesterday, said the first batch of the eight-six locomotives were conveyed through rail arrived in the country. According to Liu, the trains will be used on standard gauge railways like the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line, Itakpe-Warri Rail…

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