Tag: Train Service

FG probes NRC ticket racketeering on Abuja-Kaduna-Abuja train services

Aminu Imam
Abuja KD train service

The Federal Government has launched an investigation into allegations of ticket racketeering on the Abuja-Kaduna train services, following numerous passenger complaints. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, the Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Alkali directed the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Engineer Fidet Okhiria to establish a committee tasked with investigating the alleged issues and resolving them. In the statement, Minister Alkali acknowledged the concerns raised by passengers regarding difficulties in purchasing tickets for the Abuja-Kaduna rail service. He emphasized that the committee’s primary objective…

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Again, Abuja-Kaduna train derails; third time in 2 weeks

Aminu Imam
Abuja Kaduna train

An Abuja-bound train has derailed along the Abuja-Kaduna route on Wednesday morning, June 12, 2024. This is the third time the same incident will be occurring in two weeks – between May 26 and June 12, 2024. A Nigerian Rail Way Cooperation (NRC) staff who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident. When asked if the problem had been rectified, the train staff replied, “We are still working on it”. In reaction, a former senator representing Kaduna-Central, Senator Shehu Sani, hinted that a top Managing Director was…

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Abuja-Kaduna Train: Passengers decry epileptic services

Aminu Imam

Abuja-Kaduna train passengers have raised concerns over epileptic services since the aftermath of the attack on a passenger train on March 28, 2022. Recall that at some point, the train service was a convenient alternative to plying the Abuja-Kaduna Road, which became deadly spots for bandits’ attacks. However, since the attack on the train, which led to the suspension of the service, the fortunes of the train service have continued to dwindle even after the federal announced resumption of service. The derailment of the train on the Abuja corridor in…

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DSS uncovers Boko Haram plan to attack Abuja-Kaduna train

Aminu Imam

The Department of State Service (DSS) has uncovered a plan by Boko Haram terrorists to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train service. The DSS disclosed this in a letter sent to the Ministry of Transportation. According to reports, the Ministry of Transportation, in a letter to the Ministry of Defence, said it had on February 1, received a letter from the DSS on the threat by Boko Haram terrorists to attack the Abuja-Kaduna train services. The transportation ministry called on the Minister of Defence, as a matter of urgency, to convene a…

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NRC suspends Abuja-Kaduna service as train derails again in FCT

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the Abuja-Kaduna rail services after a train again derailed on the corridor. The train is said to be a few minutes from its destination in Abuja when it reportedly veered-off the rail tracks, yesterday. The incident was said to have occurred in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT). In an update on its mobile application, the NRC said it suspended services on the route due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’.  The incident is coming just a few days after the Itakpe-Warri train…

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Diesel shortage grounds Abuja-Kaduna train service

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has apologised for the delay in Abuja-Kaduna train service movement on Monday. The Manager, Abuja-Kaduna Train Service, Pascal Nnorli, who issued a statement after complaints by passengers, explained that the delay was due to a shortage in the supply of AGO, popularly known as diesel. According to him, the diesel received fell short of the standard required, and was outrightly rejected after a statutory laboratory test. The manager said the test is carried out on all liquid “used on the rolling stock, locomotives inclusive, in…

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Edo Train Kidnap: 12 more passengers rescued, abductors hold 2 railway workers

Aminu Imam

Twelve passengers kidnapped on January 7, at Igueben train station in Edo State have been rescued. The State’s Commissioner of Police Mohammed Dankwara, who announced the operation in a statement, yesterday, disclosed that the passengers were waiting to board a train to Warri in Delta State when armed men struck. The Commissioner of Police said joint security forces, acting on technical intelligence, stormed a forest named Igboha and freed the citizens unhurt. Those rescued are Eunice Esaba, 56, Marian Mowoe, 28, Faith Smart, 42, Precious Egwuje, 28, Obehi Omaben, 39,…

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FG to spend N30.79bn on security surveillance along Abuja-Kaduna railway, others

Aminu Imam

The Federal Government has proposed to spend over N30 billion on the installation of an ‘Acoustal Sensing Security surveillance system’ for the Abuja (Idu)-Kaduna railway, including other items in the 2023 Budget. Other items include the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna railway; completion of the Lagos-Ibadan and its associated additional works; rehabilitation of Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail line, and the construction of 12 NRC station building and tracks-laying works at railway ancillary facilities area, among others. The figure, which is part of the Federal Government’s executive proposal in the 2023 Appropriation Bill, also…

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Edo Train Attack: “Nigeria yet to win war on insecurity” – Tinubu 

Aminu Imam

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says the recent abduction of 31 persons at a train station in Edo State shows that Nigeria is yet to win the battle against insecurity. Tinubu, who is seeking to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, condemned the attack, in an issued statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, yesterday. Recall that the passengers were abducted at Igueben Station on Saturday, while waiting to board the train to Warri, Delta State. This is the second train abduction in less than…

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Edo Kidnapping: ’14 passengers still with abductors – NRC

Aminu Imam

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhiria, has disclosed that about 14 passengers kidnapped at the Tom Ikimi train station in Edo State were still with the kidnappers. Okhiria, who made the disclosure during an interview on a television programme yesterday, also said approval has not been gotten to acquire sophisticated security systems. On whether lessons were learnt from the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train, he said: “We learned a lot from the last attack. We have deployed some systems and improved our security by increasing the…

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