Abuja–Kaduna train service temporarily disrupted

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has announced temporary disruption of Abuja–Kaduna train service, appealing to passengers to remain patient.

The Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday, after public concerns over the reduced frequency of train services on the corridor.

Opeifa stated that NRC reviewed a recent article by veteran journalist Muhammad Iskeel Abdullahi published on the Journalists for Development platform, and appreciated the concerns raised as genuine and patriotic.

The Managing-Director described the Abuja–Kaduna corridor as a flagship service under Nigeria’s railway modernisation programme, noting that even minimal disruptions are widely felt by the public.

The NRC acknowledged the discomfort experienced by commuters, attributing the reduced services to damage sustained by its Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) rolling stock during an incident on August 26. It expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.

According to Opeifa, the service reduction was not due to neglect, but to two major setbacks: the March 2022 terrorist attack on the rail line, which prompted a comprehensive overhaul of safety procedures and enhanced collaboration with security agencies, and a recent derailment that damaged several coaches and reduced the number of operational rolling stock.

“The repairs and refurbishment are ongoing, while arrangements are being made to deploy additional coaches to restore normal service frequency.

“We assure passengers that the current challenges represent a phase of recovery and rebuilding rather than a decline in commitment.

“The Federal Government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has continued to support efforts to strengthen rail infrastructure nationwide, with the Minister of Transport working closely with the Corporation to accelerate full restoration,” Opeifa said.