NRC Resumes Kaduna-Abuja Train Services After Attack

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Train services on the Kaduna-Abuja route resumed on Saturday after an attack on the rail line on Wednesday by some yet-to-be-identified persons.

While returning from a trip in Abuja to Kaduna with a former federal lawmaker, Mr Shehu Sani, onboard, an explosion damaged the rail track and forced the train to stop close to its destination.

After the incident, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which manages the facility, announced the suspension of services on the route on Thursday pending when things are put in place.

Today, operations recommenced at the Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna but the turnout of passengers was low as some of them are still sceptical about their safety.

It was gathered that the NRC quickly fixed the damaged portion of the track and put in place measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

The rail transport system was almost dead in Nigeria until the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari embarked on a transformation drive to make it attractive again.

Due to the incessant kidnapping of passengers on the Kaduna-Abuja road by some terrorists, the use of the train as an alternative mode of transport was embraced by Nigerians, including the elites.

However, the incident of Wednesday has put fears in the minds of passengers and this may have caused the low patronage of the train services witnessed today, though some are not aware of the resumption of the Kaduna-Abuja train services by the NRC.

The government has consistently assured citizens that it will not fail to discharge its constitutional responsibility of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians.