Something is fundamentally wrong with the Abuja–Kaduna train service, and at this point, silence has become an act of sabotage. What was once Nigeria’s pride, our most reliable intercity transport system, the symbol of modern rail revival has now been reduced to a skeletal, frustrating, almost useless operation. And the tragedy is that everyone sees it, yet those responsible appear unmoved.
Months ago, an accident damaged a few coaches. Fair enough. Accidents happen. But what is unacceptable is the lethargy, the slowness, the complete managerial disconnect that followed. Instead of swift recovery, instead of a proactive emergency plan, instead of visible leadership, the service has collapsed into a shadow of itself, one trip per day, as though we are running a ceremonial heritage train, not a critical national transport artery linking two major cities.
This is not just disappointing; it is a national disgrace.
Where is the managerial urgency?
Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, was once praised for his responsiveness. He initiated a passenger complaints desk commendable. He listened, he acted, he followed up. But today, the reverse is the case. The responsiveness is gone. Customer engagement is gone. The service culture is gone.
All we see now is silence, excuses, and operational confusion.
The most insulting part of this whole debacle is the illogical scheduling. Kaduna residents leave their homes early in the morning to work in Abuja. That is the entire economic logic of this corridor. Evening trains should return them home.
But what do we have today?
A train leaving Abuja for Kaduna in the morning.
Who exactly is this schedule meant for?
Ghost passengers?
Tourists?
Or is this the NRC announcing openly that it does not understand the basic pattern of commuter traffic?
This is a monumental goof, one that shows complete disconnection from the needs of the people the train is meant to serve.
Where is the Federal Government? Where is the Minister of Transport?
This crisis has dragged on for months. No emergency repairs. No alternative coaches deployed. No additional trains borrowed from other corridors. No temporary measures to stabilize the timetable. No communication. Just a deafening silence and a disgraceful nonchalance.
The Federal Government must step in.
The Minister of Transport must wake up.
The NRC leadership must explain itself or step aside for people who understand the weight of national responsibility, this is because the stakes are high and enormous.
The Abuja–Kaduna corridor is not an ordinary route. It carries civil servants, business people, security personnel, international visitors, and thousands of hardworking Nigerians who depend on it for daily livelihood.
Delays here affect:
– government productivity
– business output
– security
– public confidence
– the country’s reputation.
That’s how high the stakes are.
You do not treat such a vital service with carelessness.
IT IS TIME FOR ACTION
We demand:
1. Immediate restoration of multiple daily trips, morning Kaduna to Abuja, and then; evening Abuja to Kaduna.
2. Transparent explanation for the months-long delay in restoring full service.
3. Deployment of alternative coaches if the damaged ones are not yet repaired.
4. Public communication from NRC, not silence.
5. Accountability from the Ministry of Transport.
The Abuja–Kaduna train used to be a model. If this is how we handle challenges, then the entire system is at risk.
Nigeria cannot continue like this. The suffering is too much.
The inefficiency is becoming deliberate.
And the silence is dangerous.
The Federal Government must intervene now.
Muhammad Iskeel Abdullahi,
For:
Journalists For Development.
