ABUJA - KADUNA TRAIN SERVICE:SECURITY AND SAFETY OF PASSENGERS

NEWS:  

Following the commissioning of the #1.46billion dollars Abuja-Kaduna Standard gauge train service

by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 26^th, reports available shows that the Federal Government has so far, realized an income of about #5m within the first two weeks of operation.

This was the report of the Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria who disclosed that, “in the first week of operation, we made N2.2 million; in the second week, we made N2.9 million".

But, from economists and stakeholders, this might have been higher if proper considerations and thoughts had been given to its location. With the prevailing security considerations, the choice of Rigasa as station was not properly thought out.

Rigasa is a community with predominantly Muslim population and it has in times past, regarded as a flash point for crisis; particularly religious crisis and this had made many avoid that axis of the state, especially non-Muslims.

This, then brings to question, the sensibility of situating the station for the New Modern Standard Gauge Railway Line in such a volatile community which is expectedly, supposed to cater for everybody.

What forms this inconsiderate decision, many are forced to ask?

What is the security precautions put in place to safeguard the lives of likely passengers within the perimeters of the Rigasa station and also, while on transit within the community?

With the religious crises that had engulfed Kaduna state years past, survivors who had been trapped within that axis have varying horrifying tales to tell.

Residents of the state have queried the rationale behind the siting of the station within the confines and at the extreme of Rigasa when the government could have as well linked the Idu-Kaduna rail to the old railway station (Kaduna Junction) at a lesser cost but with greater profits on returns.

Security and the safety of all passengers would have been guaranteed as Kaduna Junction Railway station has remained peaceful throughout the turbulent years.

While some view the Rigasa station as another possible way of introducing peaceful cohabitation by all in spite of religious and ethnic differences, the palpable fears and apprehension with likely misgivings, cannot be over-ruled.

The management of the NRC through its Acting Managing Director, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, was quick to point out its profits on returns within the first two weeks of operations.         

“This is the third week of operation; the last week report showed that we had almost 5,000 passengers in six days. We have capacity for 320 passengers per trip; for now. So, for a day, the maximum number of passengers we can have is 1000,” he said.

However, some financial experts have cautioned the haste to give figures especially when every security measure has not been put in place.

For the proper fencing of the tracks, Mr. Okhiria disclosed that this would commence before the end of August this year.