By Fidelis Ugbomeh
Passengers who earlier booked to board standard gauge commercial trains from Lagos to badan, Abuja-Kaduna and Warri-Itakpe from August 1, till date could not travel to their various destinations due to suspension of train service by management of Nigerian Railway Corporation
It was revealed that prospective passengers that besieged train terminals at the three aforementioned railway corridors were told that passenger train service have been suspended till further notice pending stoppage of the ongoing nationwide protests on #EndBadGovernance.
Investigation carried out by Our Correspondent also showed that as early as 7.00a.m last Thursday prospective passengers wishing to travel to Ibadan from Lagos were told that the train service has been cancelled till further notice.
The twice daily interstate mass transit train service on the narrow gauge railway line from Kajola/Ijoko-Iddo and back as well as freight train service were also affected by the suspension.
One of the intending passengers who booked earlier to travel on Thursday, August 1, 2024, from Lagos to Ibadan Mr. Tunde Ojudun, expressed disgust over this development saying, “I booked on Tuesday to embark on a trip from Lateef Jakande Railway Terminal, Agbado in Ogun State to Ibadan on Thursday only to be turned back on the premise that the train has been cancelled”.
He suggested that the corporation should have an official platform whereby prospective passengers can be informed if schedule of train movement has been disrupted rather than allow passengers to arrive train terminals before informing them of cancellation.
An official of the corporation who spoke under annonymity said that the decision to cancel all train services was based on safety of passengers, equipment and goods.
When Our Correspondent visited Mobolaji-Johnson, Lateef Jakande, Babatunde Raji Fashola and Yemi Oshibajo train terminals, security personnel from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Railway Police Commands were seen gaurding the terminals against any possible attack.