Lagos – The Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) will resume on May 23, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has said.
Mr Yakub Mahmood,Deputy Direction, Public Relations of the NRC confirmed this in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday.
It will be recalled that 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 incident forced the NRC to suspend train service on the route indefinitely on March 29.
Mahmood said that additional security measures were being put
in place at both the train stations and the track to ensure the safety of passengers onboard.
According to him, such measures are 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 efforts to secure the safe
release of the remaining abducted passengers were ongoing.
“The government wishes to assure the relatives of the abducted citizens still in captivity that the safe rescue of the passengers is a top priority,” he said.
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, but was quick to state government’s resolve not to succumb to threats by any faceless group.
Mahmood appealed to customers for understanding and enjoined them to always cooperate with NRC staff at the various train stations.
He further urged passengers to desist from obtaining tickets through unauthorised sources. (NAN/vitalnews)
