Senator Alkali Assures Quick Restoration of Abuja-Kaduna Train Line

Senator Alkali Assures Quick Restoration of Abuja-Kaduna Train Line
The minister revealed the locomotive involved was hauling eight coaches at the time of the accident
Alkali praised the security forces and other stakeholders for their efforts in safeguarding passengers

The Minister of Transport, Senator Said Alkali, has assured that, all things being equal, the suspended Abuja-Kaduna train service could be restored within the next ten days.

Eko Hot Blog reports that he made the assurance during a site inspection on Monday, where clearing efforts were underway following the derailment of the train on August 26. According to the minister, progress is steady, and the damaged tracks are expected to be repaired within ten days.

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“As you can see during my visit, the accident affected about 150 meters of the track, which is not a long stretch,” Alkali explained. “We will repair the sleepers, pallets, and rail tracks to resume operations. It is the government’s primary responsibility to ensure the welfare of its citizens.”

He added, “We are working to secure a larger crane to move the coaches and locomotives at the site. God willing, within the next 48 hours, we will have relocated all of them from the accident area. Barring any weather challenges, the line will be restored within ten days.”

The minister also revealed that the locomotive involved was hauling eight coaches at the time of the accident. “We have already moved four of them from the site,” he said.

Alkali praised the security forces and other stakeholders for their efforts in safeguarding passengers, staff, and railway facilities during the ongoing recovery work.

He also commended the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) staff for their round-the-clock work to clear and repair the damaged tracks as quickly as possible.

He said, “I want to thank Mr. President and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his support since the incident occurred. His backing has been crucial in moving the locomotive, coaches, and restoring the rail line to resume service.”

Alkali further acknowledged the managing director of NRC and his team, praising their continuous efforts at the site to restore normal operations after the incident.

Explaining the cause of the derailment, the minister said the accident happened at a track intersection where two trains normally interchange. “Typically, two trains run simultaneously with points for interchange.

The incident occurred at one of these points. However, I cannot speculate on the cause as the investigation is ongoing,” he stated.

On steps to prevent similar accidents in the future, Alkali said, “The teams are working hard to ensure this does not happen again.

The investigation will determine the actual cause, and we will take the necessary measures to prevent a recurrence, God willing.”

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