TheCable

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the Lagos-Kano mass transit train service (MTTS) will resume operations from August 13, 2021.

Ismail Adebiyi, NRC northern district regional manager, said this in an interview with NAN on Sunday.

In March 2021, the corporation announced plans to resume operations on the Lagos-Kano route which was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adebiyi said the train will operate once a week to leave Lagos on Friday evening and arrive in Kano on Sunday morning.

For other train services in the country, he said NRC has concluded plans to restart operations from Kaduna to Kafanchan; and Kaduna to Kano train service before the end of August.

He also said that the corporation will rehabilitate 100 wagons to further strengthen the rail sector within the next two months.

The regional manager told NAN that 21 of the rehabilitated wagons would be used in the northern district of the rail service comprising Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina and Zamfara states.

He said that plans were at an advanced stage to enhance traffic on the Kano-Nguru (Yobe state) by returning coaches that were dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adebiyi further said that since most of the routes were on narrow gauge, NRC would strengthen its maintenance work to ensure hitch-free operations.

On vandalism of railway equipment, Adebiyi said the corporation has collaborated with key security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to address the menace.

He also commended the federal government for boosting rail service and asked Nigerians to take advantage of the transport system.