The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, has queried the design of the train stations, which does not give easy access to the physically challenged and the elderly people to use train services.

Alkali, while undertaking an unscheduled inspection of the Kubwa (Abuja) Train Station earlier this week, challenged the design of the train station. Even though the Minister later disclosed that his visit was informed primarily by the report of vandalism of the main power supply from the national grid to the train station.

He said the power source vandalism has plunged the Kubwa station into darkness and its management had to rely on alternative sources to power their operations.

Alkali also said he wanted: “to see that the security and welfare of passengers are not compromised.” The inspection visit by the minister was undertaken in the company of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Adeleye Adeoye, the Director, Rail Transport Services, Fimbarr Zirarr; the Director, Press and Public Relations, and aides of the minister.

The Minister expressed dismay that many staff members were not at their duty post.
The minister thereafter proceeded to see the vandalised power installation.

On the vandalised power installation, Senator Alkali called for a quick liaison between Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), the station manager and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for a quick restoration. He also urged them to ensure maximum security for the facility.

Alkali, while inspecting the station’s facilities, discovered that the staircase that passengers use when disembarking from trains coming inward to Kubwa, Abuja from Rigasa in Kaduna, is not friendly to the physically challenged and the elderly.

He immediately instructed the Director, Rail Services, to note so that the right things are done “at the level of the Ministry, the NRC, and the contractor.”

The minister also inspected the communication rooms where he found out that the communication equipment installed there had stopped working.