According to the minister of transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, The Abuja-Kaduna route will resume operations after the necessary technology has been placed on trains.
Basic Facts
- The Minister made this known on Tuesday in Abuja when he visited the Idu and Kubwa train stations to familiarize himself with the environment after taking over as Minister.
- Sambo said that regular train service on the line will resume after the abducted passengers have been reunited with their families.
- He also said that the federal government is working on deploying necessary technology to ensure safety of passengers before resumption of train service on the route.
Notable Quotes
In his words:
“First and foremost, it is very important to get those Nigerians that were kidnapped reunited with their families, otherwise it will be seen as if the government is not sensitive.”
“Whereas the government is not only sensitive, but the government is doing everything it can to make sure that those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident are reunited with their families.”
“Secondly, you must put in place adequate security and infrastructure to protect and prevent all forms of threats that are possible and leave what you cannot do to God.”
“So, we are trying to deploy the best technology available anywhere in the world. That has served very well for us in other jurisdictions, which we believe can also serve us very well here in Nigeria.”
Recall that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) suspended train services on the route following the incident of kidnap and abduction by Bandits in March.
Speaking during the visit on Tuesday, Sambo said there was need to ensure that necessary measures are taken to avoid a recurrence of the March 28 tragedy.
According to him, everything humanly possible must be done to divert an attack of such nature.
The minister added that the government was making efforts to acquire explosion sensors that would detect and eliminate threats on the tracks.
He concluded, saying: “To save the lives of Nigerians is the priority of the government, the best way to travel, as far as I’m concerned, is by train.”
Takeaway
The worrisome security situation in the country has hampered normal life around the country, making it impossible for Nigerians to live a normal life.
President Buhari on Tuesday called for foreign help and more international collaboration to tackle Nigeria`s worsening insecurity situation.
Clariform reports that the Buhari’s government came to power in 2015 basking on the twin promise of tackling insecurity and corruption.
However, the administration from all indications and popular opinion across the country has performed below average on both indices.
The above had led to heighten insecurity in the country even in Abuja the seat of government.
The state of insecurity has particularly been alarming in the last two months with Abuja witnessing multiple attacks in July alone.
Catch-up
In a related development, Clariform has reported that the Lagos-Kano and Ajaokuta train services have reportedly been suspended by the Nigerian Railway Corporation out of concern for more terrorist strikes.
Clariform recall that the Nigerian nation was rudely awaken on March 29th 2022 with the News that a train carrying hundreds of passengers were attacked in the evening of March 28th while heading to Kaduna from Abuja.
Before the attack happened, passengers had preferred the train services as a safe means to travel and avoid been kidnapped which is common around Kaduna.
High caliber politicians and others saw the train as a safe haven from criminals. However, that myth has since been shattered with the train attack, which led to the death of passengers and kidnap of others.
Clariform reports that the details of the negotiations and release of these hostages has not been confirmed by government sources or security agencies amidst the rise in conspiracy theories amongst the populace
Conspiracy theories includes the rumours that government and family members of the kidnapped victims are pacifying the kidnappers through the payment of ransom.
There is also the rumour that the ransom could be as low as 50 Million Naira or as high as 100 Million Naira per victim.
