The Nigerian Senate has commenced an inquiry into the challenges and inefficiencies affecting the railway system in the country, amid rising concerns about the decline in service quality on essential rail corridors.
This investigation was sparked by a personal account shared during the plenary session on Thursday, January 29, when a senator highlighted the deteriorating state of major rail routes nationwide.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio formed an ad hoc committee tasked with a detailed assessment of the Nigerian railway system. This committee will evaluate project implementation, funding allocations, operational effectiveness, and overall service quality, with a report due in six weeks.
Initially established in November 2025, the committee is chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Akpabio expressed his disappointment regarding the current state of railway services, particularly noting the reduced speed of the Abuja–Kaduna train service. He indicated that travel times have worsened to the point where alternative modes of transport, like bicycles or commercial tricycles, could reach Kaduna faster than the train.
Earlier, Senator Abdul Ningi voiced similar worries, pointing to the poor state of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano rail line and suggesting that the contract for its development was poorly executed.
He additionally highlighted that while this rail line generates over ₦1.8 billion in revenue, there has been no measurable improvement in service delivery. Ningi pointed out that the journey from Abuja to Kaduna, which previously took approximately one and a half hours, now spans nearly three and a half hours.
Moreover, he noted that train services on this route have been limited to just one trip per day, departing from Abuja at 7:00 a.m., and returning from Kaduna, in stark contrast to the multiple daily services that were once offered.
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