The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that the Abuja-Kaduna train services would resume on Monday, May 23, 2022. The Corporation also said early morning and night train operations along that route would no longer be available to passengers. This was made known on Monday in a statement issued by NRC Spokesperson, Yakubu Mahmood.
Mahmood said additional security measures were being put in place at train stations and tracks nationwide in order to ensure the safety of train passengers.
He said, “Consequently, the passengers are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the NRC in order to enjoy the improved service delivery, safety, and comfort. This is by patiently complying with additional measures that will surely be introduced for the safety of our passengers, such as requesting for passengers' National Identification Numbers (NIN).
“The NIN is part of our internal security check; in addition, presentation of the following must be strictly complied before boarding the train: A valid photo Identification Card (ID), reachable telephone number of Next of Kin (NOK) or close relative and an online and offline purchase of tickets must contain the passenger’s individual profile or identification data”.
He urged for passengers’ cooperation and also advised passengers to desist from obtaining tickets through unauthorized sources.
NRC immediately suspended operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route after armed bandits used explosives to attack the Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022, during which several people were killed and others missing or kidnapped.
According to Mahmood, “The government wishes to assure the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of these passengers is a top priority and not to misconstrue the resumption of train services, like abandonment or nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight.
“The federal government will never abdicate its responsibility in rescuing these valuable citizens, however, the government assures of its resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group”.