Days after terrorists’ attack, Abuja-Kaduna Train Service restored

“I think what is significant is that the repair was done by our own Nigerian engineers and completed in record time”

“By Saturday we expect to run the first train. That is why I had to come here myself physically to be present here”

The Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) which was suspended following terrorists’ attack last weekend resumes operations today, according to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi had on Friday, Oct. 22, directed that the train service should resume operations immediately following repairs on the rail tracks between Rijana and Dutse along the route vandalized by explosives used by the terrorists.

Persecondnews had reported that explosives planted by the terrorists damaged the tracks between the Rijana-Dutse axis on the route.

Inspecting the repaired tracks, the minister assured the public of Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of passengers along the route.

Amaechi told newsmen:”I think what is significant is that the repair was done by our own Nigerian engineers and completed in record time.

“By Saturday we expect to run the first train. That is why I had to come here myself physically to be present here.”

“We want to assure the public that beyond the physical presence of police and deployment of the military along this track, I just told the MD to get us a rail bus that will be on patrol regularly on the track so that we can see what is going to happen even before the train takes off.”

That will be the measure we will put in place until we put a digital system in place. And it will be end to end from Abuja-Kaduna and it will the same thing for Lagos-Ibadan,” the minister also said.

Amaechi said the incident that happened would fasten the procurement process of the Digital Security System which the government planned to install on the track.

“It had gone to cabinet two weeks ago and it was returned so, we will re-present it to cabinet to ensure that we get approval , then we can install the digital security network.

“The essence of the digital security system is to enable us know when there is an impact on the rail.

“It has a sensor, when people walk across the rail we will be able to know. We will get the police to be involved so that they will be here before we install the security system,” he said.

The minister expressed satisfaction that local engineers were able to fix the damaged tracks.

“You can see the lady engineer, however she can be able to fix that, she and her colleagues will be able to do more kilometers of track laying and possibly track construction.”