Insecurity forces NRC to suspend train operations

The rising insecurity in the country has forced the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to suspend train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Kano, and Ajaokuta routes.

It was gathered that the NRC suspended services at the Ajaokuta station along Warri-Itakpe route over the attack on some train passengers by gunmen on Monday, while operations on the Lagos-Kano route were suspended over the rising insecurity in Niger and Kaduna states, which are the routes of the train heading to Kano from Lagos.

The NRC had suspended train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route after the terror attack on March 28, 2022.

Credible sources in the Ministry of Transportation and the NRC, however, disclosed that the train services would not resume until the security along the Lagos-Kano route and the Ajaokuta train station was guaranteed.

The suspension of the train services was however confirmed by the NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, on Tuesday.

Okhiria, while speaking on the services along the Warri-Itakpe route, said: “We have not stopped services, rather what we said was that we are not going to be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.

“This is because yesterday (Monday), while passengers were leaving the station with their private cars and buses, they had people shooting at them. So we said we will not stop there again for passengers.

“The train is still running, but for now we will not be stopping at Ajaokuta because they have some concerns there. We heard that they removed their traditional ruler in that location and the local government chairman there,” PUNCH quoted the NRC Managing Director as saying.

He added that apart from the Abuja-Kaduna route, the NRC had also suspended services on the Lagos-Kano route over the security challenges bedeviling the country.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has said appropriate technology would be installed before resuming train operations on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

Sambo also expressed the hope that all the kidnapped passengers on the train would soon be released by their abductors.

He made this known during a familiarisation visit to the Idu and Kubwa train stations in Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister stated that there was a need to ensure necessary measures were taken to avoid the reoccurrence of the March 28 train attack.

Sambo said: “First and foremost, it is very important to get those Nigerians that were kidnapped reunited with their families, otherwise it will be seen as if government is not sensitive.

“Whereas government is not only sensitive, but government is doing everything it can to make sure that those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident are reunited with their families.

“Secondly, you must put in place adequate security and infrastructure to protect and prevent all forms of threats that are possible and leave what you cannot do to God.”

The minister added: “Everything humanly possible must be put in place to ensure that a recurrence of this nature is automatically eliminated forever.

“We thank God technology can make that possible.

“So we are trying to deploy the best technology available anywhere in the world that has served very well in other jurisdictions, which we believe can also serve us very well here in Nigeria.”

Sambo, however, stated that the Federal Government was processing to acquire explosion sensors that would detect and eliminate threats on the track, saying: “To save the lives of Nigerians is the priority of government, the best way to travel as far as I’m concerned, is by train.”

The minister further assured that normal train services would be restored on Abuja- Kaduna route soon.

On maintenance, Sambo said arrangements were being made to ensure the maintenance of existing facilities at the stations.

The Star

Segun Ojo