Abuja-Kaduna Train Service Set To Resume As NRC Announces Resumption Date
Abuja-Kaduna train services is set to commence as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced its resumption.
This was contained in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr. Yakub Mahmod who stated that the service will resume on Monday, May 23rd 2022, about two months after the facility was bombed by terrorists.
This is as most passengers who were abducted by terrorists after they bombed and attacked the train on March 28 are still in captivity and negotiations to release them have not yielded any positive results.
However, the NRC said that the Kaduna-Kaduna service would return and assured that greater security measures will be put in place but without the early morning and night operations.
The statement read, the “Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT) has directed the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Services (AKTS).”
The government however assured “the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of these passengers is a top priority and not to misconstrue the resumption of train services, as abandonment or nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight. The federal government will never abdicate its responsibility in rescuing these valuable citizens, however, the government assures of its resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group.”
The statement said “additional security measures are being put in place at both the train stations and the track to ensure the safety of the passengers onboard.”
It explained that “these measures are not only for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) but also for all the passenger train services especially on the standard gauge railway lines.”
“Consequently, the passengers are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the NRC in order to enjoin improved service delivery, safety and comfort by patiently complying with additional measures that will surely be introduced for the safety of our passengers, such as requesting for passengers National Identification Numbers (NIN) as part of our internal security check in addition, presentation of the following must be strictly complied with before boarding the train” NRC
Also “Valid Photo Identification Card (ID), reachable telephone number of Next of Kin (NOK) or close relative. Online and offline purchase of tickets must contain the passengers’ individual profile or identification data” as part of additional security measures.
