According to Engr. Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), the monthly revenue generated from train service operations on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line has decreased from N500 million to N1 million monthly.
Speaking during the inspection of the Idu Train Station on Wednesday in Abuja, Okhiria said the purpose of the tour was to address various problems brought up by the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, including escalators, lifts and security guard allowances.
He said, “Right now, we only make two return trips as opposed to the ten we were making before that incident. We were operating from 6 am to 10 night, but we have been told not to go past 6 pm.
“So, we are hopeful that when the security situation normalises and they can advise us, we can start the full operation so that we can break even,” the company said.
Out of the five months of unpaid allowances, the managing director stated that they had paid two months and hoped to finish it soon.
According to OBASANJO NEWS24, last year, thieves successfully immobilised the train between Katari and Rijana by detonating a bomb on the rail track of the Abuja-Kaduna train.
They abducted a number of passengers, who were later freed after a ransom was paid in an undisclosed sum.
