Amaechi Reveals Cause Of Train Breakdown On Abuja-Kaduna Corridor

• On the Lagos-Ibadan route, 42, 000 passengers were moved in June, we expect the figures to surge in the coming months.”

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has revealed the cause of incessant breakdowns of trains on the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.

Amaechi, while speaking during the monitoring progress of work done on the Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor barely a month after its commissioning, attributed the breakdowns to lack of spare parts to replace worn-out parts.

Amaechi stated, “The issue with the breakdown of the Abuja-Kaduna train is down to lack of maintenance which is attributable to a lack of spare parts.

“We have written to Mr. President on this issue and he has graciously approved the purchase of spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan trains.

”Very soon, enough spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan rail will arrive the country. By the time this occurs, we will use some of these parts for the Abuja-Kaduna, and hopefully, the issue of incessant breakdown of the trains will be resolved,” the minister said.

The former governor of Rivers State stated that the trains bought in 2016 had worked optimally until now, noting that the time had come for the trains to be serviced with new spare parts.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Travellers Stranded In Bush As Abuja-Kaduna Train Breaks Down 

Amaechi further disclosed that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is fine-tuning coordination of the fully installed communication and signaling system, adding that when done, the number of trips on the corridor will be increased from the current 4 trips to 8 per day.

While speaking on traffic congestion, the minister stated, “On the Lagos-Ibadan route, 42, 000 passengers were moved in June, we expect the figures to surge in the coming months because if we could convey 42, 000 a month after commissioning, then the figures can only increase as more people become aware of the train services”.

Amaechi, who also spoke on the poor remuneration and welfare package of staff members of the NRC, said the corporation ranks least among other agencies under his purview.

The minister, however, pledged an upward review of the poor remuneration and welfare package of the staff as quickly as possible.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Amaechi was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Directors of the Ministry and NRC.

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