Abuja–Kaduna train service disruptions temporary– NRC

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced to its passengers and other stakeholders that disruptions of train services along the Abuja-Kaduna rail route are temporary and did not signify neglect. The spokesman of NRC, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, who made this announcement in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, was responding to a publication that said […]

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced to its passengers and other stakeholders that disruptions of train services along the Abuja-Kaduna rail route are temporary and did not signify neglect.
The spokesman of NRC, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, who made this announcement in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, was responding to a publication that said that the Abuja-Kaduna train service was declining.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation has received and carefully reviewed the article regarding the state of the Abuja–Kaduna train service.
“We appreciate the passion, concern and sense of national responsibility expressed. These are genuine sentiments shared by a concerned customer and a patriotic Nigerian. We value all our customers and take every feedback seriously.
“As rightly noted, the Abuja–Kaduna corridor is a flagship service of the nation’s modern railway revival. It is, therefore, understandable that any disruption, no matter how minimal, will be widely felt.
“We acknowledge the discomfort experienced by our numerous commuters who have had to bear the reduction in services caused by an incident on August 26, which damaged our flagship Diesel Multiple Unit rolling stock. We regret the inconveniences this has caused,” he said.
“The first setback is the March, 2022, terrorist attack, which led to the loss of precious lives and caused severe trauma.
“In response, the corporation prioritised safety, redesigned operating procedures, restricted late trips and strengthened security collaborations with the armed forces and the Police to prevent a recurrence.
“The second setback is the recent derailment incident, which damaged several coaches and reduced the number of serviceable rolling stock available for daily operations.
“Repairs and refurbishment are ongoing with urgency, alongside arrangements for the deployment of additional coaches to restore normal frequency as soon as possible,” he added.
The NRC’s spokesman reassured its esteemed passengers that the challenges did not represent a decline in its commitment, but a phase of recovery, restoration and rebuilding, adding that the ongoing interventions along the route included ongoing repairs of damaged coaches and certification for safe return to service, and temporary reinforcement of alternative rolling stock where technically feasible.
Another intervention, he said, was the prioritisation of security enhancement across the corridor with the full restoration of multiple daily trips remaining a foremost operational target. (NAN)