Abuja–Kaduna commuters return with cautious hope as train service resumes

Abuja–Kaduna commuters return with cautious hope as train service resumes

For many passengers boarding the early morning train at Idu Station on October 1st, the ride to Kaduna was more than a commute — it was a quiet test of trust.

After weeks of halted operations, the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) resumed on Wednesday, greeted by a mix of relief, curiosity, and cautious optimism from travellers.

From office workers to traders and students, passengers trickled back onto the familiar platforms, scanning the carriages with a sense of tentative reassurance.

Among them was Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who chose not to issue statements from an office but to ride alongside citizens.

His presence wasn’t just symbolic — it was a show of accountability, the

“Confidence can’t be restored with press releases alone,” one passenger remarked. “Seeing leadership onboard matters.”

Over the past few weeks, the NRC has conducted a low-profile but intensive recovery effort — training staff, tightening security, and reviewing safety protocols.

The return trip from Rigasa to Abuja was completed without incident, marking a smooth reopening of the corridor.

While speaking to journalists after the journey, Dr. Opeifa attributed the progress to “God’s grace and the hard work of unsung professionals” behind the scenes — engineers, cleaners, security teams — whose efforts rarely make headlines.

He reiterated the NRC’s renewed focus: not just reopening the rails, but reimagining them.

A newly established Customer Service Department is now operational, and modernization efforts, he promised, would no longer be just plans on paper.

Security remains a top concern. Uniformed officers were visible at every stop, while less obvious protections have reportedly been activated across the line.

Speaking with journalists after arrival at Rigasa, Dr. Opeifa highlighted the central role of a modern railway system in fostering national unity and development, noting that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has invested massively in rail infrastructure across the country.

The NRC boss reiterated his commitment to turning around the fortunes of the corporation by prioritizing the completion of ongoing projects, optimization of existing national rail assets, rehabilitation of all serviceable rolling stocks, expanding services, improving customer experience and modernization of operations and its efficiency particularly along the AKTS corridor.

For now, passengers say the most powerful sign of progress is simple: the train moved. It stopped. And it came back.

With the AKTS back on track, the real journey — toward lasting trust and true modernization — has only just begun.