By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has recorded higher passenger traffic on the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor following the increase in daily train trips, a development that commuters say is restoring confidence in the nation’s railway services.
The improvement became noticeable after the corporation increased the number of daily trips to three, a move passengers say has made the service more flexible, reliable and convenient, while also addressing transportation gaps between Abuja and Kaduna.
Passengers who spoke during a monitoring of the service commended the NRC for sustaining operations despite funding and operational challenges, noting that recent improvements in security checks, luggage screening and visible security presence along the rail line have enhanced safety and comfort.
From Idu to Rigasa stations, commuters described the experience as encouraging, pointing to cleaner terminals, more comfortable coaches and better organisation as signs of renewed commitment by the corporation.
Mrs. Ene Ndoka Nwagwu, one of the passengers, expressed satisfaction with the changes, saying the service now reflects improvement.
“I’m impressed by the services provided by the Nigerian Railway Corporation,” she said.
Another passenger, Farida Mukhtar, said the increase in the number of daily trips has made travelling easier, as passengers no longer struggle to meet a fixed schedule.
“We’re really happy with the increase in the number of trains to Kaduna. Right now I don’t have to check the time before I need to get the train, so it is very convenient,” she stated.
Mr. Umar Farouq also praised the corporation, describing the effort as commendable.
“It is very, very commendable for the Nigerian Railway Corporation,” he said.
For some travellers, the improved schedule has made it easier to connect to other destinations without unnecessary delays.
Hadiza Ajuji explained that the flexibility in the timetable now allows her to continue her journey without spending the night in Abuja.
“As it is now, I’m moving to Akwanga. Before now, I would have gone to Abuja to sleep, but now I can proceed to Akwanga and still meet my train tomorrow,” she said.
Passengers also noted improvements in onboard services, including internet connectivity and better customer relations from staff.
Mr. Paul Anavhe said the innovations introduced by the corporation have made the journey more comfortable.
“I’m using the Wi-Fi presently. With the increment of the trips and the services, there are more people attending to passengers, and they are more friendly,” he said.
Mrs. Imaan Abubakar said the recent improvements have helped rebuild trust between passengers and the corporation, but appealed for more coaches and additional trips to meet growing demand.
“I think there is now a level of trust between passengers and the corporation, but they should add more coaches and increase the trips to four daily,” she said.
Responding to the calls, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said the corporation is working to improve capacity but is currently constrained by operational limitations.
“This is what we can do right now. We are constrained by movement for time of day, and we are also constrained by the availability of equipment,” Opeifa said.
He explained that while the corporation has enough locomotives, the number of available coaches limits the possibility of adding more trips.
“We have enough locomotives to move, but we are constrained by the number of coaches. For now, we will try to increase the number of coaches on this particular train,” he added.
Passengers also called on state governments to invest more in railway development, noting that improved rail transport would ease pressure on roads and enhance movement of people and goods across the country.
The Abuja–Kaduna rail line remains one of the busiest routes in Nigeria, and the recent increase in train trips is seen by commuters as a major step toward strengthening rail transportation nationwide.
