Transportation Minister Saidu Ahmed Alkali has queried the Managing Director of the Nigerian Rail Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria, over the bad condition of the Abuja Train Station.
The minister issued the query yesterday when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Idu Train Terminal in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Alkali, who was accompanied by only two security aides and two reporters, arrived the station around 3 p.m.
The minister said he was visiting the station, following some complaints he had received about the condition of facilities and workers at the station.
He said,
“I have come here to see things for myself. From experience, when a visit is scheduled, people will put things in place because you are coming.
“I received a complaint from the security escorts that in the last five months their allowances were not paid. The coaches are unkempt, and the seats are not clean.
“I am well informed that escalators are not working. This has made it very difficult for the elderly and the disabled persons to use the train.
“I am happy that the Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation is appearing before the ministry on Tuesday to brief us. When he comes, he will have to explain why disciplinary action shouldn’t be taken against him.”
Alkali ordered that all faulty escalators be fixed within 48 hours, while outstanding allowances for train security escorts are to be paid today.
On what he would do differently to ensure efficient rail services in the country, the minister promised to work in line with the objective of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by ensuring that facilities at rail stations across the country work efficiently.
“I am going to liaise with the Ministry of Defence so that we can ensure that we’ve maintained unmanned area vehicles to ensure adequate protection from the air,” he said.