The Senate has launched a comprehensive investigation
into the state of Nigeria’s railway system following growing concerns over
declining service delivery and deteriorating rail infrastructure.
The decision followed a personal explanation raised
during Thursday’s plenary by a lawmaker who alerted the upper chamber to the
worsening condition of major rail corridors across the country.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio
inaugurated an ad hoc committee to conduct a thorough probe of the railway
sector.
The committee has been mandated to review the
execution of railway projects, funding utilisation, operational efficiency and
overall service delivery, and is expected to submit its report within six
weeks.
The panel, which was initially constituted in November
2025, is chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Expressing concern over the current state of rail
services, Akpabio lamented the declining performance of the Abuja–Kaduna train
service, noting that the travel time has deteriorated so badly that alternative
means of transportation, including bicycles and commercial tricycles (Keke
Napep), could reach Kaduna faster than the train.
The concerns were earlier raised by Senator Abdul
Ningi, who drew attention to the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano rail line, alleging that the
contract for the project was poorly executed.
Ningi further claimed that despite the rail corridor
generating over ?1.8 billion in revenue, there has been no significant
improvement in service quality.
According to him, the journey from Abuja to Kaduna,
which initially took about one and a half hours, now lasts approximately three
and a half hours.
He also noted a sharp reduction in train operations
along the route, stating that services have been scaled down to just one trip
per day, with a 7:00 a.m. departure from Abuja and a return trip from Kaduna,
compared to the multiple daily trips previously available.
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