Low turnout mars return of Abuja-Kaduna train service 

Low turnout of passengers marked the return of Abuja-Kaduna train operation on Monday December 5, 2022, eight months and seven days after suspension by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), as armed security men flooded the Rigasa terminal in Kaduna.  

The train service was suspended after terrorists’ attack left at least eight persons dead, 26 others injured and over 60 kidnapped on the March 28, 2022.

Managing Director of the NRC, Fidelis Okhiria, had said while announcing the resumption that only two return services will run for the meantime, with an upward review in ticket prices. 

At the Rigasa Station in Kaduna, several passengers turned up to board the train, which now wears a new look, but they were nowhere near the capacity or the usual number of passengers prior to the suspension. 

A tour of the various coaches of the train revealed a visible presence of armed personnel providing security for passengers and their luggages.

Also, in compliance with the NRC management directive that all intending passengers must provide their National Identification Number (NINI) before they are allowed to board the train, the NRC officials were seen verifying passengers’ NIN with Telpo Machine.

Some of the passengers who spoke to Blueprint correspondent expressed delight at the resumption of the train services and hoped that the security assured by the government will be sustained.

Despite an increase in fare prices, passengers aboard the train said it was better and more convenient to use the train than plying the Abuja-Kaduna road, which is under reconstruction. 

The passengers said the resumption of the train services was a big relief for them.

A resident of Kaduna who was traveling to Abuja, Mr. Mutiu Ayodele, said “the resumption of train service is a huge relief to us, the Abuja-Kaduna road is too bad. Considering that there are many people working in Abuja whose family resides in Kaduna and they have to shuttle the two cities on weekly basis, the return of train operation is a very good thing because we can now see our families as often as we wished”. 

Meanwhile, the first train departed the Rigasa station at 8:00am on Monday, and arrived the Idu terminal in Abuja at around 10:00am, with several seats empty in the 644 capacity train. 

Blueprint Correspondent also observed that many surveillance cameras have also been installed at the train station.