The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a temporary interruption in the Abuja–Kaduna train service and appealed to passengers for patience as efforts continue to restore full operations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, addressed public concerns over the noticeable reduction in train frequency along the route.

He noted that the Corporation had reviewed a recent commentary by veteran journalist Muhammad Iskeel Abdullahi published on the Journalists for Development platform, adding that the observations raised were both sincere and patriotic.

Opeifa described the Abuja–Kaduna rail corridor as one of the flagship components of Nigeria’s railway modernisation project, explaining that even minor disruptions on the route have significant impact due to its high demand.

The NRC acknowledged the discomfort passengers are currently experiencing and attributed the reduced operations to damage sustained by its Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) coaches during an incident on August 26. The Corporation expressed regret over the inconvenience.

According to the Managing Director, the service reduction stems from two major challenges: the March 2022 terrorist attack on the rail line, which led to a comprehensive restructuring of safety protocols and improved collaboration with security agencies, and a recent derailment that damaged several coaches, thereby reducing available rolling stock.

“Repairs and refurbishment are ongoing, and arrangements are being finalised for the deployment of additional coaches to bring services back to normal,” Opeifa stated.

He assured passengers that the current situation is a period of rebuilding and not a sign of declining commitment.

Opeifa further noted that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, continues to support nationwide rail infrastructure upgrades, with the Minister of Transport working closely with the NRC to fast-track full restoration of services.