Otukpo’s railway station dead in its tracks

The Otukpo Railway Station in Benue State was once a bubbling station operating three train services- Kano, Jos and Maiduguri, but today, it has become a shadow of its old glory. This is despite current attempts by the federal government to revive the rail system in Nigeria, an effort which is yielding results in some […]

The Otukpo Railway Station in Benue State was once a bubbling station operating three train services- Kano, Jos and Maiduguri, but today, it has become a shadow of its old glory.

This is despite current attempts by the federal government to revive the rail system in Nigeria, an effort which is yielding results in some parts of the country, including the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

But sadly, the Otukpo railway station which was evidently famous in the days train service was active in the country, has been left to rot away.

Findings by our correspondent at the station which once gave travellers, especially, first timers, an irrepressible positive feeling,  has now been left in tatters with the signal lamps, communication system and other essential components in shreds, except for the waiting room.

Even residents of Otukpo who live nearby seem to have taken advantage of the fact that the station and the rail track have been abandoned to farm and build residential structures there.

For instance, some have cultivated crops to the edge of the track while others it was learnt, acquired the railway land and have fixed structures for personal use.

A retired railway worker, Christopher Abba, who worked under the Railway Police Department, said he was paid-off from the corporation in 2003 when the station began to show signs of decline.

He noted that even then the Railway Market which came into being because of the viability of the train route was still active, stressing however that the market no longer exists since the popular Ankeli died.

Abba, just like 7,000 other railway workers who were laid off in 2003, had been to different parts of the country with his last posting being the Otukpo station.

Though he still collects his monthly pension, the ex-railway worker expressed disgust that the cheapest means of transportation available to the common people had been neglected and abandoned by successive governments.

According to him, train service has been revived and is obtainable in other parts of the country including the South-west and South-east, but nothing is being done about revamping those in the North-central, particularly the station considering its proximity to other locations within the zone.

He emphasised that train service is needed in North-central than any other part of the country because of the huge agricultural produce that need to be transported to other parts of the country.

“Some people are living in interior places with only the railway line passing through their communities. These people have a lot of agricultural products and with the railway, their transportation problems would be eased. We are begging the Minister of Transportation to give us at least one train to aid transportation of goods and services,” Abba said.

He added that the last time a train passed through the Otukpo station was about three months ago, and since retiring from service, he now takes charge of loading and offloading of goods whenever the train comes.

“It was one of the ways useful to the locals when the station was bubbling with life. Then, women would sell food, oranges, assorted drinks and other consumables to railway staff and travellers,” he said.

Having worked under the railway police department, Abba added that the Otukpo station had three Senior Station Masters (SSM), one Chief Station Master (CSM), four gatemen, Engineering Department (with scores of staff) and a Police Division with a Divisional Police Officer with his men.

Though the building housing the police station still stands, the other visible features at the once lively Otukpo station remain two trucks of eight coaches, dilapidated offices and other structures used for different purposes in the past.

Only four of the remaining staff of the corporation were on duty when our correspondent visited, but declined comment on the station in the absence of their boss.

Innocent Odi, a petty trader beside the station, recalled the good old days when the station bubbled and commercial activities bloomed. “We are not happy with the present condition of the railway in the country, particularly here in Otukpo. If it railways will work, it will help the poor. Look at the station, it has been abandoned. If the federal government can do something about it, it will be nice.

“We are not happy the way it is because when it was functioning, everybody used to enjoy it. Imagine that with the railway system functioning, one can travel to Enugu with N500, otherwise it is impossible,” Odi said.

He added that the railway was one of the cheapest means of transportation and particularly good for the poor, noting that when the station was functioning, it was better because there were different kinds of activities.

The paramount ruler of Otukpo Kingdom, Och’Otukpo Udu, His Royal Highness, Dr. John Eimonye, said revamping the railway station in his domain, if considered by the federal government, would bring a lot of positive results to his people. 

He said the revival would impact on the local economy as people would sell their wares at the station while boosting rail transportation even as it would open up Otukpo to other places as it was in the past.

“The rail operates different services-goods train and passenger train. So, revitalization of train services to me is important to the economy of the country more so that it is easy to maintain. From records, the train takes a longer time to breakdown. It is also the safest means of transportation. Revamping it will also improve the economy and movement of villagers,” Eimonye maintained.

Mary Odeh, a resident, described the Otukpo station as a transit place which used to bubble with life unlike today.

“When the station was functioning, there was a market there. Women and young people went there to sell food, oranges, banana, water and other things. Today, I am not sure if there is anybody there because trains no longer pass through the route again,” she said.

Odeh emphasised that apart from the economic advantages of the Otukpo station, it provided education opportunity for students on excursion as well as tourism site for others.

The people of Otukpo town are in dire need of revival of the railway but some are of the view that the bourgeoisie that own articulated vehicles for transportation of goods are standing in the way of revamping the system.

Abba, puts it this way, “Many people are willing to make use of the rail, particularly those dealing in goods that need to be transported over long distances but there are those who don’t want the system to reclaim its lost glory in Otukpo.”