Railway

We’ll start running Apapa/Lagos-Kano freight train next month – Minister Alkali

Published

9 months ago

February 17, 2024

We’ll start running Apapa/Lagos-Kano freight train next month – Minister Alkali

Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali, has said freight train from Apapa in Lagos to Kano will commence operations by the end of the this quarters.

He also said construction of standard gauge rail line from Ibadan to Abuja would start soon.

He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital when he paid a visit to the state governor Dapo Abiodun.

The minister accompanied by states commissioners of transportation were in Abeokuta for the 18th edition of the National Council on Transportation.

Alkali said the Nigerian Railway Corporation had started the movement of 90 containers daily at the APMT terminal Apapa to Ibadan.

He said that the ministry was currently in high-level discussions with foreign investors to see how the transportation sector could be fixed.

“In December last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the Vice President to lead a delegation to attend a conference in Beijing.

“The Vice President was privileged to hold a bilateral discussion with the Chinese President, among the issues raised was in respect of our railway modernisation project.

“The project was segmented initially. From Lagos to Ibadan was completed and put into use, and Abuja to Kaduna, Warri to Itakpe. We are looking at the possibility of continuing the project from Ibadan to Abuja and from Kaduna to Kano,” he said.

The minister commended Governor Abiodun for the great work in the transportation sector he had started in the state.

The governor responding said plans by the Federal Government to connect industrial zones in the country through rail lines would reduce pressure on the highways and prolong their lifespan.

The governor also noted that the resuscitation of the narrow gauge from Ibadan to Abuja, when completed, would give investors the opportunity to wheel cargo all the way from Lagos to Kano State and improve trade and commerce.

A statement from the state government House on Friday said the governor commended the minister for the bold steps being taken to reposition the transportation sector of the country.

He noted that the plan by the Ministry of Transportation to resuscitate the Kaduna to Kano rail line would further open up the country for commerce.

“I am very glad about the laudable achievements under your watch. The initiatives that you’re championing, the intervention you have sought from the Chinese to resuscitate the Kaduna to Kano line so that you will now have the connection all the way from Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.

“You admitted to me that you are thinking of how to connect our industrial zones together so you can deemphasis vehicular transportation whilst connecting the Badagry Port to the rail line that will connect with the Lagos to Kano line, also thinking of a line that will go from Lekki port to Ijebu-Ode and connect to Kajola.

“This is indeed very laudable thinking. This is what you see when you put people who have the requisite experience and capacity in position of authority, ” he said.

The governor added that his administration, upon realising the importance of the transportation sector, quickly created a ministry that would see to the running of the sector in the state.

“We understand the importance of the ministry of transportation when I assumed office. We didn’t have that ministry in Ogun State. We had the Ministry of Works, and for some strange reasons, my predecessor assumed that the Commissioner for Works can carry out the responsibilities of the Commissioner for Transportation.

Abiodun said his administration was committed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of Renewed Hope, adding that the state under his watch would continue to put the people first.

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NRC set to resume train services on Lagos-Kano narrow gauge track

Railway

NRC increases trips on Abuja-Kaduna route from four to six

Published

2 weeks ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

NRC increases trips on Abuja-Kaduna route from four to six

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced an increase in the number of trains on its Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) route in response to rising demand based on its customer feedback.

A statement signed by the NRC Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood, on Wednesday, said the number of trains had been increased to six from four, running Monday to Friday during peak periods.

This development, it added, aimed to enhance customer satisfaction by making commuting more convenient and accessible on the route as well as tackling complaints of ticket racketeering.

The statement quoted the acting Managing Director of the NRC, Ben Iloanusi, as saying that a five-month trend analysis revealed a 22 per cent increase in new passengers registering on the ticketing platform for the Abuja-Kaduna route.

The surge, he said, showed a growing preference among Nigerians for train travel as a comfortable, reliable, and safe commuting option.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Railway Corporation, reaffirming its commitment to responding to customer demands, improving customer satisfaction, and tackling complaints of ticket racketeering, has increased the number of train services from four to six from Monday to Friday when demand tends to peak on its AKTS route.”

The NRC also noted that similar trends had been observed on the Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe, and Port Harcourt-Aba routes, with efforts already underway to enhance services along these routes as well.

The acting MD assured Nigerians of the increased presence of NRC senior management across all train service routes to drive continuous efficiency and tackle the issue of ticket racketeering head-on.

“Our valued customers are encouraged to use NRC ticket platforms online to take advantage of the increased services and avoid patronising ticket racketeers.

“Additional information can be obtained from the NRC website, www.nrc.gov.ng,” it stated.

The expanded services on the Abuja-Kaduna route, it said, followed similar enhancements on the Lagos-Ibadan route, which now includes additional trips on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate increasing demand.

Railway

Nigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route

Published

2 weeks ago

November 12, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the introduction of additional train trips on its Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS) route, exclusively for Fridays and Saturdays.

This initiative increases weekend trips from two to three, offering commuters greater travel flexibility.

The announcement, made via the NRC’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, revealed that the new Lagos-to-Ibadan trip will depart at 1:40 pm, complementing the existing schedules of 7:45 am and 4:00 pm.

For the Ibadan-to-Lagos route, the additional trip is set for 10:50 am, joining the regular departures at 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.

Nigerian railway adds extra train to Friday, Saturday trips on Lagos-Ibadan route

Railway

Nigeria gets $350m AfDB facility for Kano-Maradi rail project

Published

4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigeria gets $350m AfDB facility for Kano-Maradi rail project

The Federal Government of Nigeria has secured $350 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to fund the construction of the Kano-Maradi rail project, which will connect Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Adamu Aliero, made this disclosure on Monday during an oversight visit to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) headquarters in Lagos, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Aliero stated that the Kano-Maradi rail project is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize Nigeria’s railway network and enhance regional trade links.