TheCable

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has postponed the resumption of the Lagos-Kano train service due to a damaged rail track.

The corporation had announced earlier that the service would resume operations on August 13 after it was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Fidet Okhiria, NRC managing director, announced on Thursday that the damage to the rail track was caused by a downpour around Power Line, Osogbo, Osun state capital, during the week.

He said a team of experts from NRC has been mobilised to the site and working round the clock to restore the damaged track.

He added that the corporation would announce a new date for resumption of the mass transit train service (MTTS) soon.

Okhiria regretted any inconvenience the postponement would cause for passengers and customers. 

Ismail Adebiyi, NRC northern district regional manager, had said that the train would operate once a week — to leave Lagos on Friday evening and arrive in Kano on Sunday morning.

Last year, the federal government resumed passenger train services with strict implementation and compliance to COVID-19 protocols such as the use of face masks and hand sanitisers.