Buhari to Inaugurate Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line by Next Month – Amaechi

The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday assured that the completed Abuja-Kaduna railway service would be commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari next month.

This disclosure was made by the minister during the first official test-run of the rail modernisation project which links Abuja and Kaduna State, noting that the project was ready and would commence full commercial operations once the president inaugurates it.

Amaechi said, “As for this rail transport, we are good to go. The reason why we are not letting it start now is the fact that we have to consider the president’s several engagement and religious obligation.

“However, we are looking at the first week of July, because we are good to go. In two weeks from now, they (contractors) will test-run the tracks without carrying passengers.

“In another two weeks, they will test-run it with passengers free of charge and that will take us till the last week of June.

“So by first week of July, the president will come to flag it off for commercial activities.

“After the flag off, anyone who boards must pay and that is why I told the director of railway and the managing director of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), to start ensuring that within this one month they should make sure that people who are going to use the railway have a form of identification.