Nigerian Senate Probes Deteriorating Abuja-Kaduna Rail Services

The Nigerian Senate, led by President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio, has raised concerns over the declining state of the Abuja-Kaduna rail services. The Senate has formed an ad hoc committee, chaired by Senator Adam Oshiomhole, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the rail system's performance along the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor.

Senator Abdul Ningi highlighted the drastic drop in passenger numbers and the inefficiency of the rail services, prompting the urgent need for remedial measures. The Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line, inaugurated in 2016, spans 186.5 kilometers and was executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

The project, initially estimated at $1.64 billion, faced financial challenges but was partially financed through a $500 million loan from China's Exim Bank.