Abuja-Kaduna Rail Faces Air Conditioning Failures

Commuters on the Abuja-Kaduna rail service have reported significant discomfort due to the loss of air conditioning and lighting during their journeys. This issue has been attributed to overheating power units, which led to the temporary shutdown of the cooling system and lights, plunging coaches into darkness and heat.

Mr. Abubakar Bunma, a media assistant at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), stated that the power car, which contains the generator for air conditioning and lighting, was not functioning properly.

Kayode Opeifa, the NRC Managing Director, clarified that when the power unit overheats, it necessitates a temporary shutdown to restore functionality. Additionally, passengers have faced difficulties with ticket booking on online platforms, leading to claims of tickets being resold unofficially at inflated prices.

This situation has resulted in confusion and overcrowding, with reports of ticket hoarding and reselling along the Abuja-Kaduna route, which is one of Nigeria's busiest passenger corridors.