The Federal Government says train services between the Abuja-Kaduna route will resume within seven days from Nov. 27.
Minister of Transportation Mua’zu Sambo disclosed this on Sunday while inspecting the test running the train route.
The minister said that this was to enable passengers to get used to the new requirements for enjoying the train service.
He said: ”The issue of whether the train will start tomorrow or not, we have not said the train services will start tomorrow.
“I want to be very categorical about that. Now, we have introduced a new system before you buy a ticket.
“Your purchase of a ticket requires you to provide a phone number and a national identification number in order to profile because that is the beginning of the security checks.
“So, at any point in time when a train moves from one station to another, we know who and who is on board.
“If you don’t have a NIN you are not going to board our train. It is as simple as that.
“If you are a minor, an adult will pay for you and will register for you and an adult can only register for not more than four minors.”
Sambo added that: ”Now, we want to give sufficient time for the Nigerian public to listen to these and assimilate this new system because if we start tomorrow, a lot of people will be disgruntled.
“Definitely between three, four, five days, certainly not more than a week.”
He assured Nigerians that 90 percent arrangements had been completed for the smooth commencement of Abuja-Kaduna rail services.
Sambo added that the remaining 10 per cent measures would be achieved in a couple of days for a smooth commencement.
“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.
“Certain concrete measures that are feasible include the ticketing. Security starts from ticketing so now you don’t buy a ticket unless you have a valid phone number and you have a NIN.
“And if you are a foreigner you also have a means of identification you can use which is produced by the National Identity Management Commission.
“Having secured your ticket, you will not get access to the lounge until the machine reads the barcode in your receipt.
“Your details will show and your complete profile will show on the screen. Only then will you be allowed to go into the lounge. This is what we call customer profiling,” Sambo said.
According to the minister, there will be increased number of security personnel some of which may not be wearing uniforms in order to guarantee the safety of passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna route.
He said: ”The other thing is that, for every journey, the train is monitored every second and the train driver can see up to a certain distance.
“If there is any threats on the track, that would enable him march the break before getting to the perceived threat.”
Sambo explained that there would be reduced number of trips on the route and as the traveling population picked, the number of trips would increase.
“But we will certainly not travel at night,” he said.
He further said that some other sensitive equipment which would not be disclosed had also been put in place to ensure safety of life and property.
On fares, he said discussions were in place and the fares could be increased.
“My assurance to Nigerians is that even I 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 use.
“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.
“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.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that train services along the corridor was halted due to terrorist attack on March 28 which led to loss of lives and kidnap of some passengers.
Abuja-Kaduna/NAN…
