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FG announces resumption of Abuja/Kaduna rail service seven months after

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie and Praise Cinwon Ajawo, Abuja
08 November 2022   |   5:20 am
Almost eight months after shutdown of Abuja/Kaduna rail services, the Federal Government, yesterday, announced resumption of operation before end of this month.
Abuja-Kaduna railway

Abuja-Kaduna railway

•Tackles PDP over Buhari’s scorecard

Almost eight months after shutdown of Abuja/Kaduna rail services, the Federal Government, yesterday, announced resumption of operation before end of this month.

Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, made the announcement at the second President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration scorecard (2015-2023) series in Abuja

The rail service, which gained much acceptance and patronage, was closed following bandits’ attack on March 28 this year that left many died and others kidnapped.

Sambo pledged that necessary steps had been taken to forestall future occurrences. Entertaining questions on several rail projects across the federation, the minister assured citizens that government was in the process of linking the Itakpe/Delta rail service from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Earlier, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) slammed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly saying the current administration has nothing to campaign in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, described the remarks as “absurdity and a cruel irony.” He regretted that an “opposition party that presided over the affairs of Nigeria at a time of plenty, yet, could not complete a single modern rail line, could accuse a government that has completed at least, three standard gauge rail-lines of lacking in achievements.”

Mohammed continued: “Indeed, the Buhari administration is spoilt for choice in celebrating its achievements. As I said, we have completed the Abuja-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge Rail Lines.

“We have commissioned brand new airport terminals in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. We have completed housing projects in 35 states and constructed or are constructing road projects in every state.

“They are quick to point to some economic indices like the Naira exchange rate and inflation, but the truth is that if they were the ones confronted with having to fight a once-in-a-century pandemic, two economic recessions and low oil prices, Nigeria would have had no economy to even talk about.”

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