Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, the minister of transportation, stated over the weekend that the train service between Abuja and Kaduna 90% ready.
After the start of the Abuja-Kaduna train services in a few days, he reversed course on his prior position to hide some security measures that had been put in place to ensure the protection of the lives and property of train subscribers traveling between Abuja and Kaduna.
In response to questioning from reporters, the minister said that fewer journeys will be made each day and that tight requirements would be placed on using the National Identity Number.
He announced that the Ministry would start profiling every railway passenger in collaboration with the NRC and other organizations.
He claimed that steps have been taken to increase security personnel, including the deployment of hi-tech security equipment.
Additionally, he stated that train tickets would increase and that the start of new train service was approaching.
“I think we are 90 per cent ready as far as what we are set out to do is concerned. The remaining 10 per cent I am sure would be achieved in the next couple of days for full resumption of train services.
“My assurance to Nigerians is that even I myself will be using the train, and other of my counterparts who have homes in Kaduna, in fact from next week they will start using this train so I am giving Nigerians full assurance that a human being can give that this train is safe for them to be used”. He said.
“There is absolutely nothing to fear. We have learnt from what has happened and life is about learning lessons and adopting measures with the lessons. As a responsible government, we have seen those lessons and we have devised appropriate measures to counter it, and like I always say that I was not going to allow this train to resume until everybody in captivity was released and to the glory of God, I have achieved that.
However, the Minister expressed pleasure with the Rigasa station in Kaduna’s infrastructure, noting that more will be done to improve rail services.