Travellers plying Abuja-Lagos routes may soon have another option of travelling as the federal government has hinted of plans to commence operation of a three-hour train service.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar gave the hint weekend in Abuja while giving account of stewardship by his ministry in the last three years, at a forum organised by the Office of the senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs tagged 4 Impactful Years of Jonathan’s administration, he explained that the train service, which would stop at only three stations, would “compete favourably” with air transport service.
According to the minister, the passenger train service which will take three hours to get to Abuja from Lagos (and vice-versa) will come on stream by 2015.
Stressing the importance of functional transportation system, the minister said: “The role of transportation in the socio-economic and political development of any nation cannot be over-emphasised as developments in all other sectors of the economy depends on the efficient performance of the transport system.
Umar further stated that the rehabilitation over 90 per cent of existing narrow gauge lines throughout the country was ongoing, being the first segment of the 25-year railway strategic vision.
The minister said intra and intercity train services had since been restored in Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Offa, Minna, Ibadan and others, adding that rail system targeted about five million passengers in 2014.