Lagos - Mr Niyi Alli, Director of Operations, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), on Wednesday said that the corporation has commenced two train services on Fridays on its Lagos-Kano passenger train services.
Alli told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the first train would leave Iddo for Ilorin by 9:00 a.m. while the second train would depart Iddo for Kano by 12:00 noon.
He said that the first train (Lagos/Ilorin route) would stop at all stations along its route, while the second train (Lagos–Kano route) would only stop at the state capitals along its route.
He said that the two train services would ease the congestion usually experienced on the Lagos/Kano route and reduce the arrival time in Kano.
NAN reports that the Lagos-Kano train initially arrived Kano between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, but with the new development it will arrive Kano by 5:00 p.m.
Alli described train congestion as unhealthy, adding, "part of the problem we got on the Lagos–Kano train service was demand and supply.
"The demand for our services now is overwhelming, which shows that Nigerians are prepared to embrace train operation. We have been comatose for many years
"The problem is that there have been mass increment in the population of Nigeria in the period we were not running; at the moment, we do not have the capacity to carry everybody," Alli said.
He said that on Tuesdays a train would depart Lagos for Ilorin by 9:00 a.m., while another train would depart Offa for Kano by 10:00 a.m.
"You can now go to Kano on Tuesdays, with an interchange at Offa," Alli stated.
NAN reports that last week Friday, train commuters at the Agege, Ijoko, Inisha, Ikire, and other stations were not picked because the train was congested.
"We are sorry for the disappointment. The management is working assiduously to give, not just a train service, but quality service to passengers for them to have value for their money," Alli said.
- NAN