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Tag: NRC

  • NRC resumes sales of ticket, as FG’s free train ride ends

    NRC resumes sales of ticket, as FG’s free train ride ends

    The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), says it plans to resume sales of ticket for travelers, following the expiration of the Federal Government free train ride on Jan. 4.

    Mr Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director, NRC made this known on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Okhiria said that the sales of travel tickets would resume from 6p.m. on Tuesday for intending passengers.

    He advised intending passengers to ensure that they purchase their usual tickets electronically or physically at the various stations of the corporation to avoid embarrassment.

    The federal government had declared free train ride for Nigerians from Dec. 24 to Jan. 4 to facilitate easy movement for the yuletide.

  • BREAKING: FG declares free Christmas train rides for passengers

    BREAKING: FG declares free Christmas train rides for passengers

    The Federal Government has declared free train rides for citizens from December 24, 2021 to January 4, 2022.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the free train rides apply for all routes of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) train services.

    Mr Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of NRC, who disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, said: “The decision which was made in collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, is to ease movement of citizens during the yuletide.

    ”This is to help ease the cost of transportation and enable citizens move easily enjoy the festive period.

    ”Passengers are however advised to ensure they obtain their tickets from appropriate quarters at no cost, to enable them gain access and enter the trains.

    ”All passengers are also enjoined to observe and obey COVID-19 rules by wearing of face mask, washing and sanitising of hands”.

    He also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to ensure the safety of passengers and trains during the period.

  • Railways increase number of Lagos-Ibadan train trips for Yuletide

    Railways increase number of Lagos-Ibadan train trips for Yuletide

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has increased the number of train trips between Lagos and Ibadan to four times daily with effect from Monday.

    The increase will run for three weeks to accommodate expected upsurge in passenger traffic during the Yuletide.

    NRC’s Lagos District Manager, Mr Jerry Oche made this known in Lagos on Sunday, saying trains would operate from 8 a.m. from Dec. 20 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 9.

    He explained that the increase in the number of trips would further decongest road traffic.

    Oche pleaded with passengers to board the trains with maximum of 12kg luggage.

  • Passengers influx: Warri-Itakpe Train Service to get additional coaches

    Passengers influx: Warri-Itakpe Train Service to get additional coaches

    The Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) will get additional coaches, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Coordinator of the WITS, Abdulganiyu Sanni made this known on Friday, while also confirming that the NRC would soon commence e-ticketing along the axis

    He said this was part of plans to manage the heavy influx of passengers and reduce the number of passengers that stand on board trains along the Warri-Itakpe route.

    Sanni made these known, following a series of passengers’ complaints along the Warri-Itakpe rail route.

    “I am not in Agbor right now, however, it is possible to have standing passengers on the train because the sales of ticket is manual. This will be curtailed with the introduction of e-ticketing which will come up soon.

    “The Head office has advertised for this and bids were submitted. The selection and award for the project is likely to be done this year.

    “We are also making efforts to strengthen the train with additional two coaches of 88 passengers per coach. This is expected to reduce the number of passengers without seats,” Sanni said.

    According to the coordinator, the coaches are already stationed in Agbor and will be added by the first week of December after mechanical check and satisfaction.

    In spite of the complaints by passengers, there is a video clip circulating in the media where passengers along the route were seen jam packed and standing in a train heading to Kogi.

    A passenger who was on board the train, Gloria Ali, expressed displeasure that passengers paid the same fare to be transported to a location only for a few to be seated while a majority were standing.

    “The train was full, some passengers were even standing at the door and you can imagine that everyone paid the same fare.

    “This is heartbreaking. And I’m sure some passengers using this medium for the first time today will have a horrible experience of the ride.

    “I pray the appropriate quarters will do something as soon as possible about this situation, as it calls for serious concern,” she said.

  • Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan train services get nod on e-ticketing

    Warri-Itakpe, Lagos-Ibadan train services get nod on e-ticketing

    The Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) has received nod from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to begin process of selecting e-ticketing service providers for the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe standard gauge rail services.

    The ICRC on Sunday issued NRC an Outline Business Certificate to enable it process online ticket sales solution providers for the routes under a Public Private Partnership procurement.

    Presenting the certification, ICRC Acting Director, Mr Mike Ohiani, said NRC could now proceed to concessionaire procurement phase for approval by the Federal Executive Council.

    “In the past, tickets were sold in physical store, or delivered to the respective railway ticket train station for purchase. In recent times, tickets vending machines have surfaced and have been improving the efficiency and productivity of train service.

    “Technological advancement in recent years has led to the emergence of mobile ticketing or E-ticketing.

    ”The overall scope of both projects is to design, finance, operate, build, operate and manage a secure ticketing solution system (Hardware and Software) for the passengers’ stations on the Lagos – Ibadan Standard Train Service and the Warri-Itakpe standard Train Service,” Ohiani said.

    He said that the introduction of e-ticketing would reduce cost operation, reduce handling cash and multiple fare media types as well as minimising human involvement on board fare transactions.

    Ohiani said that the e-ticketing would help in collection of information, assist in improvement of service to passengers and provide platform for fare transactions.

    Speaking at the event, NRC Managing Director, Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that the concessionaire would operate the e-ticketing with NRC staff and handover to them with new replacement of technology after 10 years of operation.

    He commended ICRC for issuing NRC with the business certificate, adding that overbooking and lack of seat would be a thing of the past with the introduction of e-ticketing on Lagos and Warri railways.

    E-ticketing started on the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service in January this year after over two years of procurement process; it reduced cases of ticket racketeering, which had dogged the train service earlier.

  • BREAKING: Train services resume as railway workers call off 3-day warning strike

    BREAKING: Train services resume as railway workers call off 3-day warning strike

    Workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have called off their three-day warning strike as train services are bound to resume once again across the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the railway workers called off the strike following a Friday’s meeting between them and the federal ministry of transport in Abuja.

    The railway workers also held a meeting with the NRC board and the management of the railway corporation.

    Read communique issued by the workers following the meetings below:

    COMMUNIQUE OF RESOLUTIONS MADE AFTER THE MEETINGS WITH THE NRC BOARD IN ABUJA AND ANOTHER WITH THE FMOT, NRC MANAGEMENT, AND THE LEADERSHIP OF NUR & SSA IN IKEJA LAGOS ON FRIDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 2021 OVER THE WORKERS’ AGITATION FOR ENHANCED SALARY REGIME; IMPROVED WELFARE, ET AL

    The followings are the resolutions made between the above captioned parties:

    i. a committee has been set up with immediate effect on the review of the standard condition of service with timeline lasting to the 31st day of January 2022;

    ii. it has been agreed that the personal data on deceased workers be collected for processing for immediate payment as every worker is already covered by the group life assurance scheme;

    iii. it has been agreed that all the train crews be given insurance cover as the train passengers and the goods in transit;

    iv. enhanced salary regime has been taken up as a priority by the NRC Board and FMoT with a view to securing approval for implementation in the earliest time possible;

    v. it has been agreed that no member of staff shall be victimized as a result of his/her participation in the 3-day industrial action of November 2021;

    vi. by this communique and foregoing resolutions, the 3-day warning strike action is hereby suspended. Therefore, workers are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect.

    TNG reports the communique was signed by Comr. Aliyu Mainasara, PG, SSA; Comr. Innocent L. Ajiji, PG NUR, and Dr. Mrs. Monsurat O. Omotayo, Director Admin/HR for NRC management.

    The development means train services will resume across the country with schedules as usual from Saturday, 20th November 2021, an NRC official confirmed to TNG.

  • Railway workers vow to continue warning strike

    Railway workers vow to continue warning strike

    As the three-day warning strike reached its second day, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), has vowed to continue its strike until it has clear and convincing reasons to suspend the strike.

    The President, NURW, Mr Innocent Ajiji, however, on Friday in Lagos said that the union is willing to negotiate with the management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Ajiji said the union hopes that the meeting with the management would yield a positive result, saying “If nothing positive comes out, we will have to complete our three-day warning strike; and after the warning strike, we will give the management time to see what it will do about our demands.

    “If the time we gave to government lapses without them doing anything, then we will embark on total strike,” he said.

    The railway workers had on Nov. 18 commenced a three-day nationwide warning strike which paralysed activities at railway stations across the country.

    Some of their demands include demand for rents to the occupants of the demolished quarters at Alagomeji Loco area beyond one year rent given them in 2018 when their quarters were demolished for the construction of Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge railway.

    Among others are the non-payment of promotion arrears for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; report of skipped and unpaid monthly salaries of some workers, especially those who were employed in 2019.

  • Train services grounded, passengers in disarray as railway workers begin strike

    Train services grounded, passengers in disarray as railway workers begin strike

    Railway workers in Nigeria under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have started their three-day warning strike.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the strike by the railway workers started on Wednesday midnight and will persist until Saturday 20th November 2021 if no intervention by the federal government.

    The strike has grounded train services in the country and thrown passengers who have already acclimatized to the service in disarray. The routes affected by the strike are: Abuja Kaduna Train Service (AKTS), Warri Itakpe Train Service (WITS) and Lagos Ibadan Train Service (LITS).

    The railway workers are demanding better salaries, improved welfare and standard condition of service. They have warned that they may be forced to embark on a protracted strike after the three day strike if there are no answers to their demands.

    A meeting by the workers with the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi to address the demand ended in a deadlock last weekend.

    Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Eric Ojekwe, and the spokesperson for NRC, Yakub Mahmood proved abortive at the time of filing this report.

    However, an NRC official confirmed to TNG that indeed the strike had commenced, stressing that there was no way they would have backed out when their demands had not been met.

    “We are not working today. The strike has started. It will stay so until Saturday. But on Sunday, we will resume normal train services.

    “However, after resuming on Sunday, we will await further instructions from our union leaders. I know we will embark on another strike if we don’t get a response from the government.

    “That strike will not be three days like this one. But we are hoping that before Saturday, the government will intervene for us to call off the strike,” the NRC official told TNG.

    TNG reports about 11,000 railway workers of the NRC spread across the country are partaking in the three-day warning strike.

    The strike activities, according to a joint statement issued by NUR and SSA NRC branch, include “fervent intercessory prayers” for success of the strike.

    The statement reads in part: “That the strike activities, which must include fervent intercessory prayers for the success of the struggles, should be within the premises of the Corporation and must be essentially orderly, well-organized, and devoid of any destruction or violation of railway assets, our assets;

    “That all the workers must comply and stay out of their offices but gather together behind their district union leaders to participate actively, peacefully, and consistently in the whole days of the strike without any fear or let;

    “That this planned strike action is just to send a warning signal to the right quarters to heed our demands for improved welfare and standard condition of service and may be followed with a protracted strike action plan;

    “That the district leadership of the unions should always await further directives from Lagos from time to time as may be deemed expedient by the national officers of the unions;

    “That every district must comply with this notice as any act prejudicial to this notice will be viewed very seriously and strictly by the leadership of the unions”.

    Meanwhile, the NRC had earlier in a memo signed by its Managing Director/CEO, Engr. F. E. Okhiria pleaded with security agencies to help protect railway assets across the country.

  • NRC thrown into crisis as railway workers across Nigeria gear up for warning strike

    NRC thrown into crisis as railway workers across Nigeria gear up for warning strike

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been thrown into a crisis situation as railway workers across the country are set to embark on a three (3) days warning strike, barring any last minute intervention by the federal government (FG).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports railway workers across the country had declared a warning strike, which is expected to begin on Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021 if the FG should refuse to accede to the demands of the workers.

    The strike warning has sparked tension as the NRC now battles on how to secure the critical infrastructure of railway assets – rail lines, locomotives and coaches – across the country.

    A memo by NRC obtained by TNG that was sent to security agencies indicates that the Corporation is wary of the fate that might befall the rail lines, locomotives and coaches if the railway workers should eventually embark on the strike.

    TNG reports the memo was titled: protection of railway assets in view of the impending warning strike action by the two in-house unions slated for Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021 and was signed by the Managing Director/CEO of NRC, Engr. F. E. Okhiria.

    The memo was addressed to all train stations managers and coordinators, States Commissioner of Police, Commandant of Civil Defense and other paramilitary bodies, the Chairman, NRC Board, amongst others.

    The memo requests all security outfits in the country to be on standby to provide adequate protection for the railway assets. The memo also directed that all revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday, 17th November, 2021, while revenue collected by the evening of Wednesday are to be secured appropriately.

    The memo also directed shut down of train services appropriately by Midnight of Wednesday, 17th November, 2021 in the event the warning strike is not called off.

    “With regards to the impending warning strike action by the two in-house unions slated for Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th November 2021, the Board and Management have met with the two in-house Unions to deliberate and resolve issues and are still in discussion to avert the proposed warning strike action.

    “However, in the event of a strike action, you are please requested to do the following to ensure that Railway Assets are protected adequately: The RDMs, Managers and Coordinators are to prepare and shut down Train Services appropriately by Midnight of Wednesday, 17th November, 2021

    “The Locomotive and Coaches should be moved to a safe place as directed below; All AKTS [Abuja Kaduna Train Service] Trains are to be returned to Idu. All WITS [Warri Itakpe Train Service] Train are to be returned to Agbor. For LITS [Lagos Ibadan Train Service], all Ibadan stock to stable at Omi-Adio Station, while Lagos stock is to stable at Mobolaji Johnson Station.

    “All revenue collected should be banked by Wednesday, 17th November, 2021, while revenue Collected by the evening of Wednesday are to be secured appropriately. All RDMs, Manager and Coordinator should ensure that the Running Sheds and Workshop area are properly secured. All RDMs, Manager and Coordinator should also endeavor to alert all private security outfits under their jurisdictions to be on standby to ensure the safety of Railway assets.

    “The Commissioner of Police and Commandant NSCDC, are to note the above and deploy their Officers and men accordingly. This measure is to prevent unforeseen developments like violence, vandalization, stealing, wanton destruction of properties, among other vices,” the memo reads.

    Railway workers’ meeting with Amaechi ends in deadlock

    The three-day warning strike action by workers of the NRC is set to hold following the failure of a truce meeting held last Saturday between the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and the leadership of the two labour unions in the rail sector.

    Recall that the two labour unions in the Nigerian rail sector, the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch had last Friday issued the 3-day warning strike notice over poor welfare packages for workers.

    Speaking after the meeting with the Minister of Transportation, the President of the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara explained that the request by the Minister of Transportation that the workers should suspend their planned strike before he can talk on review of workers welfare were rejected by the workers.

    According to Comrade Mainasara, “The meeting with the Minister of Transportation was deadlocked because he was asking us to first inform our members that the strike has been called off before he can discuss, with our efforts that have been put into reviewing workers salaries; but we rejected that suggestion.

    “We won’t call off the strike because we want to listen to efforts that are being put into reviewing workers’ salaries in the rail sector. To us, that is a mere political statement. We are tired of listening to such statements. As we speak, the planned 3-day strike action billed to start on Thursday will go.”

    Also speaking, Secretary-General of the NUR, Comrade Segun Esan explained that the Minister of Transportation left the meeting before any meaningful convergence could be achieved.

    In his words, “The meeting with the Minister of Transportation was held but ended in a subtle deadlock because the Minister left the meeting before any meaningful convergence could be reached.”

    A joint statement signed by President General, NUR, Comrade Innocent Ajiji, President SSA, NRC branch, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara, Secretary-General, NUR, Comrade Segun Esan and Secretary SSA, NRC branch, Comrade Kadiri Jibrin titled: “NOTICE AND DIRECTIVE TO EMBARK ON 3-DAY WARNING STRIKE NATIONWIDE“ had explained that a joint meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday, 10th November 2021, where the welfare of the workers of the Corporation was put before the NRC Management, has finally unanimously resolved that:

    “All the district organs (DWCs) of the NUR and SSA should, as a matter of expediency, summon a general meeting of all the workers of their districts on Monday, 15th November 2021 at exactly 10.00 a.m prompt and, in unambiguous terms, notify the entire workers of the commencement of a 3-day warning strike beginning from midnight prior to Thursday, 18th through Saturday, 20th November 2021;

    “That the DWCs of both the NUR and SSA should fuse up, resume, and function as their Districts’ Strike Action Committee prior to the commencement of the 3-day warning strike action and throughout the period of the strike and shall ensure full and total compliance of all the workers with the strike action as declared by the joint leadership of the two in-house unions;

    “That the Chairmen and the Secretaries shall be solely responsible for the sitrep (situation report) of the days of the strike action and shall escalate same to the national secretariat of the union for its information and necessary action.

    “That the strike activities, which must include fervent intercessory prayers for the success of the struggles, should be within the premises of the Corporation and must be essentially orderly, well-organized, and devoid of any destruction or violation of railway assets, our assets;

    “That all the workers must comply and stay out of their offices but gather together behind their district union leaders to participate actively, peacefully, and consistently in the whole days of the strike without any fear or let;

    “That this planned strike action is just to send a warning signal to the right quarters to heed our demands for improved welfare and standard condition of service and may be followed with a protracted strike action plan;

    That the district leadership of the unions should always await further directives from Lagos from time to time as may be deemed expedient by the national officers of the unions;

    “That every district must comply with this notice as any act prejudicial to this notice will be viewed very seriously and strictly by the leadership of the unions.”

    STRIKE: We’re pushed to the wall, our salary not more than 40k per month – Railway workers

    While the railway workers have threatened to go on the 3 day warning strike if their demand is not met by the authorities, they have said that their salary is not more than N40,000 a month, coupled with a lot of risks.

    The workers could not reach an amicable solution in their meeting with the Minister of Transport in Lagos, weekend. The workers demanded enhanced emoluments, improved welfare and protection in their services.

    President General, NUR, Comrade Ajiji, who is the leader of the railway workers in Nigeria, told the BBC Hausa Service in an interview, that they are embarking on the strike action because they were pushed to the wall.

    According to him, “we met because of the things we wrote so that the government will act on it and understand. We talked about an increase in salary and allowances of workers, and also the improvement in the welfare of workers”.

    He said in their meeting with the Minister, they could not reach an amicable solution.

    “We couldn’t reach an amicable solution. We were very surprised, documents we submitted about four months ago, we thought the documents had reached the President and that all our demands must have been approved by the President, but it is only today the Minister was telling us that the President has travelled, that he will present our grievances to the President when he comes back.

    “That means since all our talks with the Minister on salary increase, the President is yet to get the information. We started demanding a salary increase about 6 years ago. The Minister and the MD of Railway, included this in the budget proposal of 2021. When it was taken to the National Assembly, they removed the issue of our salary increment.

    “This is why we now want to down tools. If the trains are not moving, definitely our cry will be heard by the President and he will surely do something about it,” Ajiji opined.

    He further stated that the warning strike will commence on Thursday and ends on Saturday, after which they would resume and give the authorities sometime.

    “But if nothing is done, we will embark on a total strike and that would be indefinite. We have been patient in vain, for so long. The salary of a railway worker, let me tell you, is not more than N30,000, N42 to N43,000. The locomotive engine combined with the coaches cost N1 billion.

    “They will handover this train to someone receiving less than N30,000 to manage. How can he work with a peaceful mind? And a train carries over 800 passengers. The safety of these passengers is in the hands of the worker receiving less than N30,000. How can someone work comfortably,” Ajiji queried.

    Look into the cry of railway workers – Train traveller tell FG

    Meanwhile, a frequent user of the train service, who craved anonymity, has urged the FG to accede to the demands of the railway workers.

    He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to especially listen to the cry of railway workers, stressing that the strike could affect the progress of train operations in the country.

    “We don’t need any breakdown of train operations at this point in Nigeria. The effect of such action will take us backward and this is not what we need now.

    “We appeal to the FGN, FMOT and NRC Board as well as the Management to consider the request of her staffers. If we fail to see reasons to the request of these people, it could affect the progress of train operations in Nigeria and those who have been looking for the destruction of train operations in Nigeria will take advantage of the situation to carry out vandalization on the tracks that took the government a huge amount of loan to achieve. This may affect the progress made so far in the railway sector in Nigeria.

    “Please do whatever it takes to stop this industrial action. Please PMB, only you can stop this situation now by giving the Staffers of NRC what they want. They are your children sir, extend your love to them as you had done to others recently. Your approval of their request will make them more efficient and more productive. We in this community believe in your capacity to approve their request because we know you are a good Father. We thank you for your consideration Sir.

    “To the staffers of NRC, we advise you not to allow yourselves to be used for any act of vandalism by the enemies of progress of railway development in Nigeria. Do not be part of those that are capable of destroying what you laboured so hard to build. Your pains and pangs are noted and you have a good case at hand. We are begging the Federal Government to consider your case. Do not ignite any form of violence that could lead to the destruction of railway assets in your districts.

    “This is a challenge and it is subject to change pretty soon. We have a listening President and he will surely listen to your cry. God bless you,” the train user stated.

  • Abuja-Kaduna train service resumes operations amidst travellers’ apathy

    Abuja-Kaduna train service resumes operations amidst travellers’ apathy

    Barely 48 hours after bandits tampered with the rail tracks, the Abuja-Kaduna train service has resumed operations amidst the unwillingness of travellers to use the service.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) resumed operations on the route, following Thursday’s explosion on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

    However, the Kaduna terminal station at Rigasa, has witnessed low passenger turnout.

    Recall that the NRC on Saturday resumed services on the Abuja-Kaduna route two days after it suspended operations on the route following the explosion.

    The Corporation had last Thursday announced the suspension of all operations on the route after an Abuja-Kaduna bound train almost suffered a derailment as a result of the explosion that occurred at the Rijanna area on the route.

    A check by the NAN at the Rigasa station on Sunday indicated that in spite of the resumption of normal train services, the turn out of passengers travelling from Kaduna to Abuja was till low.

    The train, with a carrying capacity of 928 passengers per trip, had barely 300 passengers on board traveling to Abuja, leaving more than half of the seats empty.

    Some of the passengers who spoke to NAN maintained that the train service still remained the safest means of transportation despite last week’s unfortunate incident.

    They, however, urged the authority concerned to ensure that they improved security along the rail lines and its surrounding areas.

    Mr Ezekiel Bala, a civil servant residing in Barnawa, Kaduna, said he was delighted with the prompt action of the NRC in addressing the unforeseen incident.

    “This development has also brought relief to many travellers coupled with the prevailing economic hardship,” he said.

    Mallam Iliyasu Kabir, a business man, resident of Ungwan Mu’azu, on his part said the early resumption of the train services had assuaged the fears of the public.

    “So many people had different speculations about the unfortunate incident, but we are happy that services have resumed. For some us, business continues as usual.,” Kabir added.

    Mrs Jamila Hassan, an entrepreneur residing in Ungwan Rimi area of Kaduna, said the development would further reduce heavy traffic on the highway that was capable of increasing road crashes.

    “The situation would have been pathetic, especially on the Abuja-Kaduna highway, considering the upcoming festivities, as the end of the year approaches,” she said.

    Mallam Samaila Dogo, a petty trader at the Rigasa train station, could not hide his joy upon seeing that the train service had resumed because the development would impact positively on his business.

    “I make brisk sales only when there are travellers who troop to the station or are returning from Abuja.

    “Some of us were already worried about where to relocate to, to earn a living, but thankfully business has resumed,” Dogo said.

    An official of NRC, who sought anonymity, told NAN that only the Headquarters could comment on the resumption of the train service, including the planned security measures to ensure the safety of lives and property of travellers.