…NRC makes N200m monthly on the route
The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) says it takes in about N200 million monthly on the Abuja-Kaduna route just as it plans an hourly shuttle on the route.
“We make between N180 million and N200 million a month. I do not have the figures for passenger traffic offhand now.
“We are adding another set of diesel multiple units to the Abuja-Kaduna service. The present two trains will remain.
“By the time we add more, there will be an hourly train service between Abuja and Kaduna,” the Managing Director, Mr Fidelis Okhiria, told newsmen in Abuja.
He said the Federal Government was still subsidizing NRC operations through the payment of salaries to members of staff.
According to him, two more locomotives will be delivered in few weeks.
“Two locomotives have arrived. You know it is not easy to move by road. We hope that in the next three weeks.
“The other two locomotives and eight coaches would have arrived Kaduna. Immediately they are commissioned, we will start operations with them.
“With that, we can have the hourly operations,” Okhiria assured, pointing out that of the N200 million made monthly on that axis, N100 million goes into running cost.
On the ongong Lagos-Ibadan gauge, the NRC MD said construction work was only slowed down and not halted.
“It is due to the outbreak of Coronavirus on the global scene.
“The Minister of Transportation said it is better for people to be alive. So, monthly inspection is put on hold.
“Without an inspection, the Chinese people won’t work hard,” Okhiria said
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