The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has put a hold to the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services over the fear of terrorist attacks.
It was gathered that the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) suspended services at the Ajaokuta station along the Warri-Itakpe route because of the attack on some passengers by gunmen on Monday.
While the Lagos-Kano train services were suspended because of the high level of insecurity in Niger and Kaduna states, which are the routes of the train heading to Kano from Lagos.
Multiple sources in the Ministry of Transportation told The PUNCH that the train services would not resume until the security along the Lagos-Kano route and the Ajaokuta train station is improved.
Confirming the suspension of train services at the Ajaokuta station and the Lagos-Kano route, the NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, said, “We have not stopped (services), rather what we said was that we are not going to be stopping at the Ajaokuta station.
“This is because yesterday (Monday), while passengers were leaving the station with their private cars and buses, they had people shooting at them. So we said we will not stop there again for passengers.
“The train is still running, but for now we will not be stopping at Ajaokuta because they have some concerns there. We heard that they removed their traditional ruler in that location and the local government chairman there.”
He disclosed that security concerns prompted the corporation to also suspend services on the Lagos-Kano route just like it did on the Abuja-Kaduna route.
On if there was any other train service that was not operating aside from the Abuja-Kaduna service, Okhiria said, “No, apart from the Lagos to Kano (train service) because the Kaduna route is affected by the activities of bandits; and it (Lagos-Kano route) was stopped because we have to pass through Minna and Kaduna when heading to Kano. So we have to stop it for now.”
