By Kunle Sanni –
The Senate has expressed serious concern over the declining performance of Nigeria’s railway system, warning that train services on the Abuja–Kaduna corridor have deteriorated to the point where travel by bicycle could be faster.
According to a report by The Nation newspaper, Senate President Godswill Akpabio raised the alarm on Wednesday while inaugurating an ad hoc committee tasked with carrying out a comprehensive investigation into the nation’s rail operations.
Akpabio said the once-efficient Abuja–Kaduna rail line, previously regarded as a flagship transportation project, has suffered a sharp decline in speed, reliability, and passenger confidence.
“There was a time passengers spent about 90 minutes traveling from Abuja to Kaduna. Today, the journey takes more than three hours,” he said. “Reports before us suggest that even informal transport could arrive earlier.”
The ad hoc committee, chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, has been given six weeks to examine railway operations nationwide, including equipment quality, service delivery, and management efficiency.
Other members of the committee include Senators Hussaini Babangida, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Adamu Aliero, Wasiu Eshinlokun, Osita Ngwu, Solomon Adeola, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Ireti Kingibe, Ede Dafinone, Sahabi Yau, and Abdul Ningi.
The decision to set up the panel followed an extensive debate during plenary, triggered by complaints of worsening conditions on the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano rail corridor.
Raising the matter under the Senate Standing Orders, Senator Abdul Ningi recounted his recent experience on the route, describing the decline in service as alarming.
