*rail services on Abuja -Kaduna rail service will resume in November

Abdul Lawal with agency report

The Federal Government has assured that the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line will be constructed to link Abuja,the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for ease of transportation for people along the corridor.
The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, WHO gave this hint on Monday in Abuja while presenting the achievements of his ministry at the second edition of the PMB Administration Scorecard 2015-2023, added that the Abuja-Kaduna rail service shut down in March following the terror attack on March 28th ,2022 will resume operations this month.
The 326km Itakpe-Ajaoluta-Warri rail line conceptualised in 1987 by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Military Administration was built and inaugurated in 2020 for commercial purposes by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to a question from a user of the rail line who complained of the stress of travelling by road from Abuja to Itakpe to board the train, the minister said plans were underway to link it to Abuja.

He explained that “the rail line was constructed as a concession and it was approved at Federal Executive Council (FEC)

“Unfortunately, because the concessionaire couldn’t perform, as we speak, we are preparing to go back to the Federal Executive Council in order to execute that corridor on an EP and CP plus F, meaning Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Finance.
“It is one of the most important railway lines in this country because it is the central line.
“Like my sister rightly said, you can travel from Abuja to Warri by rail, without the hazards of going by road. So, it is a very critical line and we are mindful of that.”

The minister also noted that the railway modernisation program of the administration has a plan to link every state capital.

Speaking on Calabar Seaport Dredging, he said the project had suffered unfortunate hiccups because of multiple cases in court which they inherited.

He, however, assured that the president had directed that they should do everything possible to resolve all the cases soonest.

Abuja-Kaduna rail service resume November, says Minister

Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Monday announced the re-opening of train service on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail corridor in November 2022.
The Minister of Transportation made this known to newsmen while presenting President Muhammadu Buhari’s scorecard in the Transportation Ministry from 2015 to 2022 in Abuja.
Dailynewdcraft.ng report that service along Abuja – Kaduna train route was shut down following a terrorist attack on the train and its passengers on March 28. This led to the kidnap of passengers and the destruction of trains and rail tracks along the route.
The Federal government secured the release of the remaining 23 kidnapped hostages in  October and promised to resume services on the route after adequate security measures were put in place.
Sambo said, “The Abuja Kaduna mishap was indeed a very sad one. And by the grace of God, we shall not witness anything like that again.
”Not only because we have committed that to prayer but we have also deliberately taken  steps. Like you said, yes, indeed, lessons have been learned. And these lessons will be put into place.
”What are the lessons, safety and security surveillance, constant monitoring 24/7 and 7 days a week, 12 months a year, all around the clock.
”The Minister should be able to sit in his office and look at the rail corridor and see what is happening there.
”The president should be able to do that. The director-general of the State Security Service (SSS) should be able to do that and so on and all other security agencies.
“These are the measures we have put in place. Nobody will again shave our heads behind our backs.
”This month of November, we shall resume that service. Remember, I told you for those of you who are reporters from the statehouse, that we will not resume this service until every Nigerian held in captivity was reunited with their families.
”God has made that possible to security agencies in this country, under the able leadership and support of Mr President have made that possible.
”And it is now history. Not one of them(thr hostages) was injured. Not one of them was hurt. Praise God,” he said.