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Tag: NRC

  • We did not ground Warri-Itakpe train services – NRC

    We did not ground Warri-Itakpe train services – NRC

    Mr Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director, NRC says the management did not ground its train operations on the Warri-Itakpe rail corridor contrary to reports in some newspaper publications.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

    The NRC said that the train services at the Ajaokuta station were only suspended temporarily due to reported communal clashes.

    ”The management of the NRC wishes to inform the general public, especially our numerous valued customers that the NRC did not ground its train operations as speculated in some quarters.

    ”The Warri- Itakpe train service is fully operational as scheduled, however, there is a temporary suspension of passenger train stoppage at Ajaokuta station due to communal clashes, pending restoration of peace to the area.

    ”Passengers are advised to use any of the two adjacent stations Itakpe (North) and Itogbo (South) until the restoration of the service,” Okhiria said.

    He reiterated the directive of the Transportation Minister, Mr Mu’azu Sambo, that the Abuja to Kaduna passenger train service would remain suspended.

    According to him, it will not resume until all the passengers held hostage by bandits are completely released to their relations and an additional security system is put in place to avoid a reoccurrence of the March 28 incident.

    He also said the Lagos to Kano express passenger train would not resume operation following suspected bandits’ presence along the Minna to Kaduna rail corridor in the North Western district of the Corporation.

  • “Gunmen invaded my home, killed my father, went away with my niece”

    “Gunmen invaded my home, killed my father, went away with my niece”

    Gunmen invaded my home in the village of Manchok in the middle of Tuesday night, killed my father and went away with my niece, Philip Yatai has disclosed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that some gunmen on Tuesday night at about 9:00 pm invaded the Federal School of Statistics in Manchok, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    The invasion left one dead and two kidnapped; including the Rector/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the school, Mr Amos Mangbon.

    Findings reveal the deceased is an 86-year-old ex-staff of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Daniel Yatai, who is a resident of the community and father of Philip.

    “Gunmen invaded my home in the village (Manchok) middle of Tuesday night, killed my father and went away with my niece… In all, we give thanks to God,” Philip wrote on Facebook.

    Though police authorities are yet to confirm the incident, it was gathered that the gunmen in their large numbers started shooting sporadically to scare residents when they invaded the community.

    The daughter of the victim, Miss Christiana Yatai, told Channels Television that the bandits gained access to their house through the fence.

    She said the bandits ordered them to open the door and when they refused, they forced it open and entered the house, after which one of them shot her father at the back through the window, while the rest who entered the room also reigned more bullets on the victim, which led to his death.

    The bandits also went away with one of the victims’ relatives, Miss Brenda Friday, a 21-year-old student of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.

    A family member, Joseph Yatai told Channels Television that the bandits have contacted them and are demanding N15 million as ransom to release the girl.

    “We are five in the house: myself, my dad, my mum, two of my niece, and a nephew,” the source said.

    “They asked us to open the door and when we refused they break the main entrance door and gained access to the house.

    “My father was in his room and one of them wearing a mask, who was outside the house, shot him through the window and hit him from the back.  Those who entered the house later went to his room and finished him off.

    “They went away with one of my nieces, Ms. Brenda Friday, 21, a final year student of Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya.”

  • Nigerian Railway generates N5.70bn from passengers in 2021

    Nigerian Railway generates N5.70bn from passengers in 2021

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation generated N5.70bn revenue from passengers in 2021, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says.

    This is contained in the NBS Rail Transportation Data for 2021 released in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The report revealed that the total revenue generated from passengers in 2020 was N1.75 billion.

    The 2021 revenue, the NBS said, represents a 226.44 per cent increase.

    The report revealed that the total revenue generated in 2020, amounting to a 226.44 per cent increase.

    The bureau said that over 2.7 million  passengers travelled by train in 2021 compared to 1 million recorded in 2020, representing a 166.03 per cent increase.

    Similarly, the report showed a total of 168,301 tonnes of goods were transported in 2021 as against 87,440 recorded in 2020, showing a growth rate of 92.48 per cent.

    In addition, the report showed the revenue generated from goods in 2021 amounted to N317.57 million, higher by 12.87 per cent compared to N281.35 million in 2020.

    “Other income receipts in 2021 stood at N66.80 million, higher than the N5.19 million recorded in the preceding year.”

  • Railways cautions Nigerians against fake tickets website

    Railways cautions Nigerians against fake tickets website

    The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has cautioned Nigerians against a fictitious website inviting the unsuspecting general public to question and answer quiz that attracts monetary benefit.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations Department of NRC, Malam Yakub Mahmood, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos.

    The statement said the purported online platform was completely false, hence baseless and unfounded, without credible source.

    It said: “This website with the link http://installmultilateral.top/nrcgovng/tb.php is completely a scam website.

    “This stock in trade is to defraud innocent people and tarnish the reputable corporate image of the organisation.

    “NRC hereby refutes that the fake website publication, orchestrated by scammers and fraudsters is to defraud unsuspecting members of the public as there is no question-and-answer quiz been conducted online by the NRC.”

    The NRC advised the general public to be wary, conscious and observant in order not to fall prey to unscrupulous internet fraudsters masquerading with fictitious websites.

  • Kaduna-Abuja Route: NRC postpones resumption date

    Kaduna-Abuja Route: NRC postpones resumption date

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the resumption of train services on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

    NewsGuru.com reports that an Abuja bound train travelling from Kaduna was attacked by bandits few months back where eight passengers died during the attack, while many were kidnapped.

    NRC stopped operations of Kaduna -Abuja route over the March 31st train attack.

     

    Meanwhile, the train service was scheduled to resume on Monday, May 23, 2022, but in a statement on Friday, Yakubu Mahmood, the spokesperson of NRC, said a new date would be announced soon.

    “Sequel to our earlier Press Release No. 10 dated 16th May 2022 on the above caption, the General Public is kindly invited to note the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is announcing a shift in the resumption date for Abuja Kaduna,” the statement reads.

    Mahmood has assured the affected families that it was working hard to secure the victims’ release.

  • FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train service

    FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train service

    The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT), has directed that the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) should resume on May 23.

    The Deputy Director, Public Relations of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Yakub Mahmood, made this known in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday.

    A Kaduna-bound train from Abuja was attacked on March 28 by armed bandits, during which at least eight persons were killed and others kidnapped or missing.

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation on March 29 suspended train operations along the Abuja-Kaduna route indefinitely.

    Mahmood said that the corporation wished to inform its valued customers that additional security measures were being put in place at both the train stations and the track to ensure the safety of passengers onboard.

    He said that such measures were not only for the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) but also for all the passenger train services, especially on the standard gauge railway lines.

    “Consequently, the passengers are hereby enjoined to cooperate with the NRC in order to enjoy improved service delivery, safety and comfort.

    “This is by patiently complying with additional measures that will surely be introduced for the safety of our passengers, such as requesting for passengers National Identification Numbers (NIN).

    “The NIN is part of our internal security check; in addition, presentation of the following must be strictly complied with before boarding the train:

    “A valid photo Identification Card (ID), reachable telephone number of Next of Kin (NOK) or close relative and an Online and offline purchase of tickets must contain the passenger’s individual profile or identification data,” he said.

    Mahmood said that concerted effort to secure the safe release of the abducted passengers being held hostage by the terrorists was continuing out of the public domain for strategic security reasons.

    He said that the government wished to assure the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of the passengers was a top priority.

    The NRC official said that they should not misconstrue the resumption of train services as abandonment or nonchalant attitude of the government towards their plight.

    He said that the federal government would never abdicate its responsibility in rescuing these valuable citizens, however, it assured of its resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group.

    Mahmood appealed to customers for understanding and invited them to cooperate with their staff at the various train stations.

    He urged passengers to desist from obtaining tickets through unauthorised sources.

  • Abuja-Kaduna train attack: NRC announces restoration of track access

    Abuja-Kaduna train attack: NRC announces restoration of track access

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed that the track access between Abuja and Kaduna is now restored.

    The Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria, confirmed the development in a statement issued by Director Operations of the NRC, Mr Niyi Alli, on Thursday in Lagos.

    Okhiria explained that the south end of the tracks, destroyed by explosion, has been successfully joined with the north end.

    He said: “In our concerted efforts at restoring the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) tracks corridor for resumption of service, please note the latest updates as follow:

    “The connection of the AKTS line has been achieved. This implies that the major track components (Concrete Sleepers and Rails) have been completely laid.

    “The south end of the tracks (which was destroyed by the explosion), has been successfully joined with the north end. Track access between Abuja and Kaduna is now restored.”

    Okhiria said the technical team would continue with other track stablisation works including Ballasting, Temping, Fastening of accessories (clips, bolts and nuts) and Welding.

    He reminded that the Loco 2502 which was involved in the accident (though not damaged) and trapped at the Rigasa end due to lack of route access, has now crossed to the Idu end.

    The managing director added This has been taken to the workshop for proper examination and routine maintenance.

    Okhiria said as had been mentioned in earlier releases, the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) would resume soon with additional security measures put in place.

    He reminded that passengers would be required to provide their NIN registration for verification prior to purchasing train tickets, adding that this was for improved passenger profiling and safety on board.

    The managing director said: “We will continue to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that all persons being held are rescued unhurt and reunited with their families soon.

    “We continue to pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate attack.

    “We also pray that Almighty God to continue to grant the families of those who lost loved ones, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    “We equally pray for the full recovery of those injured in the ill-fated AK9 train service of 28 March, 2022.”

    Okhiria said in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive, it encourages anyone still looking for a loved one or for update to please contact the following numbers in its situation room: Mrs Lola 08023310145 and Mr Mahmood 07038356015.

    He said the NRC continues to express its profound gratitude to the security agencies for the continued support, especially for the security cover availed its officials and staff at the incident site.

    The managing director said as customary, the corporation would update the general public of the latest developments.

  • NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on tickets – Amaechi

    NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on tickets – Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has directed the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to handover tickets and passengers’ identification to Secure ID, the company in charge of the E-Ticketing platform for Abuja-Kaduna rail service.

    According to Amaechi, this will help in reducing incidents of crime and also curb security challenges on the route.

    ‘What the National Assembly told me is that NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on the tickets’

    Amaechi said this when the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission(ICRC) visited and presented the Full Business Case Certificates (FBC) for the Lagos- Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri E-Ticketing service, to him in Abuja.

    He said the introduction of the E-Ticketing platform for Abuja-Kaduna, blocked all revenue leakages and increased generated revenue on the route from about N100million to N400million monthly.

    “The benefits of the E-Ticketing is that we rose from N100million to N400 million per month, which is an improvement.

    “We have been able to do something that will eliminate leakages.

    “The one I think I may disagree with the public, is the issue of ticket racketeering, I have spoken with the person in charge of Abuja-Kaduna e- ticket platform to take over the identification process from NRC.

    “Because what the National Assembly told me is that NRC doesn’t cross check the identification of passengers on the tickets. They wanted to do it, but they have not gotten the approval from NRC.

    “So, I have told NRC to allow them do it, so that we match faces with the names, it’s not all about crime alone but is also security, so we release it to those security outlets.

    “Even though we cannot eliminate 100 percent crime and corruption, it will reduce the danger of having to run into security crises.

    ”So, that we know that what we are battling with is not crises in our terminals, but on the way and I believe that, that also will be sorted out as we go to cabinet for approval of the security gadgets, “Amaechi said.

    While presenting the FBC, Mr Michael Ohiani, the Acting Director-General of the ICRC, he however said that the concession was for a period of ten years.

    According to Ohiani, it will generate over N140billion for the country during the period and also help create over 3000 direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

    “The concession is for 10 years. It is going to generate over N140billion to the Federal Government, most importantly, it will also create job opportunities for over 3000 direct and indirect jobs.

    ” The next phase is for the Hon. Minister to take it to the Federal Executive Council for approval and the Ministry of Justice will now clear it, “Ohiani said.

  • KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK: INEC official among abductees, pleads with govt to come to their rescue

    KADUNA TRAIN ATTACK: INEC official among abductees, pleads with govt to come to their rescue

    Abductors of passengers of Abuja-Kaduna train, which was attacked on March 28, have released a video showing a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna state, pleading with the government to “please come to our rescue”.

     

    After the attack, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had confirmed eight deaths, while 22 persons were declared “still missing” as of April 3.

     

    In a video obtained by HumAngle on Sunday, more than 20 victims were seen seated on the bare floor and surrounded by armed persons in what looks like a large forest area.

     

    One of the victims who spoke, but didn’t give her name, said she is a staff member of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kaduna state.

     

    “In my own case, I am a staff of INEC in Kaduna state. I am pleading with the government to please come to our rescue,” she said.

     

    Joy, another abductee who identified herself as a student of Kaduna State University, asked the government to ensure they are rescued safely.

     

    “I’m speaking on behalf of the students. Government should please hear our cry and come to our aid,” Joy said.

     

    A woman identified as Gladys, who said she was an “ex-staff of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria”, said government should listen to concerns raised by citizens.

     

    “What happened on Monday was needless if the government would have a listening ear and accede to what the populace are talking about,” Gladys said.

     

    A male victim, identified as Adedeji, said he was on his way to Kaduna for eye treatment when the attack occurred.

     

    Recall that on April 6, Alwan Hassan, acting managing director/chief executive officer of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) — one of those declared missing by his relatives- was released, and his abductors had listed the Ramadan season and old age as reasons he was freed.

     

    It was gathered that the abductors had reached out to family members of captives to demand various amounts as ransom.

  • Train attack: 14 missing passengers found alive, 8 dead – NRC

    Train attack: 14 missing passengers found alive, 8 dead – NRC

    The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria, has said that 14 of the 21 passengers abducted on board Ak9 train on the standard gauge rail from Kaduna to Abuja were found alive and safe.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos by Okhiria in an update on the attack and abduction of passengers on the train by terrorists on March 28, at Kateri-Rijana area of Kaduna State.

    He said that a total of 362 validated passengers were on board the attacked AK9 train service

    “No fewer than 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes with additional 14 persons confirmed safe today.

    “Also, 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or not reachable since Tuesday morning. A total of 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing but no response from the other end.

    “Another 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called respond non-existent. A total of 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives while eight persons confirmed dead.

    “Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed were safely moved to Rigasa station, bringing the total number of recovered coaches safely moved to NRC stations to seven,”Okhiria said.

    He said that intensive work continues on track repairs, adding that more concrete sleepers were moved to site while some section of the twisted tracks had been straightened.

    Okhiria expressed the gratitude of the NRC management to the security agencies for all the support, adding “the management also appreciated the visit of the Squadron Commander of MOPOL 1, Kaduna, to the accident site on Monday.

    The NRC boss reassured that the corporation would continue to update the general public of the developments to prevent misleading information and falsehood.