The Federal Government explained on Wednesday why it is not in a rush to resume train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route, saying that doing so would be insensitive to the plight of families whose loved ones were kidnapped along the route and are currently being held captive by terrorists.
Muazu Sambo, Minister of Transportation, provided the suggestion after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In response to queries about the suspension of train service in the aftermath of the March 2022 incident, he stated that two major challenges continue to plague the Abuja-Kaduna train route.
These, he said, include shattered families whose relatives are still being held captive by terrorists, as well as the government’s recognition of the importance of installing surveillance stations in critical locations to watch the tracks.
He stated that the government was experimenting with the best monitoring methods, including possible concessions under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
However, the Minister refused to be definitive and provide a timetable for implementing the initiative, adding, “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their members still in the bush.”
He stated that the administration was concerned about the cost implications and would be more inclined to declare concrete progress in roughly a month.
The Minister stated that the FEC authorized a contract for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) worth around N1.49 billion for crane repair.
