NRC Explains Reasons Behind Suspension of Some Railway Operations

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has explained that it had to suspend train services on certain routes due to insecurity, bandit attacks, and damage to its rail tracks.

An NRC official in Niger, John Otivere, shared this in Minna while speaking about the condition of railway infrastructure in different parts of the country. He spoke on behalf of the district rail superintendent in Minna, Blessing Okanezi.

Otivere said that insecurity and vandalism had made it difficult to continue operations on some lines. He clarified that the narrow gauge tracks have not been abandoned, but that safety concerns have interrupted regular service. “Our trains still run from Lagos to Kano and back. The lines are not abandoned,” he said.

He mentioned that the most affected areas include Gwada, Sarkin-Pawa to Kuchi in Niger State, and Gaddani towards Gwadada in Kaduna State. According to him, the train station at Gaddani a community on the border of Niger and Kaduna has remained closed for a long time due to frequent bandit attacks. Other areas facing similar problems include Wushishi, Pakara, and Akere, where the last train operated in December 2022.

Femi Adewakun, the district internal auditor, also confirmed that the NRC in Niger continues to maintain its engines and inspect rail lines regularly. He spoke on behalf of the district manager, Suleiman Obafun, and stressed how important the railway system is to the country’s economy.

“We operate narrow gauge lines here and we carry out daily maintenance and inspections,” he said.

Akin Atanda, the district civil engineer, also shared how vandalism and security threats have seriously affected railway operations. He said some areas are now too dangerous to access, making it hard to maintain tracks or run trains. For example, vandals have been removing track fasteners in the Beji area.

“Some of those involved have been arrested and are either in court or already in prison,” he said. He also mentioned that erosion had washed away some tracks in places like Mokwa, causing more damage.

Atanda stressed that safety is the top priority and that these challenges must be addressed to restore smooth railway operations.