After eight months of suspension, the Abuja-Kaduna train services would resume operations on Monday, December 5, 2022.
The Management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the development at the weekend.
The train service was suspended after terrorists attacked the Abuja-Kaduna-bound train on March 28, 2022. Several passengers were abducted in the daring attack.
Passengers are mandated to present the National Identification Number (NIN) before being allowed to board the train.
The NRC said: “This is to inform the general public that Nigeran Railway Corporation on the directive of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation will resume the Abuja-Kaduna Passenger train service on Monday 5th December 2022.
“The service will commence with two return services. The commuting public is hereby advised that as part of the new security measures on the Abuja-Kaduna service, it is now mandatory to present the National Identification Number (NIN) before being allowed to board the train.”
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There are also new rules guiding the operations of the train service. “No access will be allowed into the departure or arrival hall without a valid ticket and purchase of a ticket by proxy is only limited to minors and a specified number of adult passengers,” the NRC said.
Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, during a recent test-run of the train directed that Nigerians without a NIN would not be allowed to board the train.
The minister said the security measures to be put in place before the commencement of services was 90 per cent completed.
“I think we are 90 per cent ready as far as what we are set to do is concerned. The remaining 10 per cent I am sure would be achieved in the next couple of days for full resumption of train services.
“Your purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a national identification number in order to profile, because that is the beginning of the security checks.
“So, at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another we know who and who are on board.
“If you don’t have a NIN you are not going to board our train. It is as simple as that.
“If you are a minor, an adult will pay for you and will register for you and an adult can only register for not more than four minors,” Sambo said.
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