-By Tolulope Ibukun
ABUJA, NIGERIA – President Muhammed Buhari has launched the first phase new rail line in Abuja on Thursday, July 12, 2018. The launch occured at the new metro station in Central Business District (CBD), Abuja. He also flagged off the railway services signalling the commencement of operations of the long- awaited rail services in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) Abuja .
The Abuja Rail Mass Transit is the first mass transit project in Nigeria as well as in West Africa.the 45 .245 km standard guage rail line from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Abuja Metro Station . The Three-Dimensional Traffic Network rail system runs from the West to the Airport Station at the Abuja International Airport and east to Abuja Metro Station at the Abuja Transportation Centre downtown.
The project which has been in the works for over eleven years is expected to reduce most of the traffic gridlock in the Abuja region. The Transportation Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) , Kayode Opeifa, said that the “The Abuja rail system is as advanced as any in the developed world and it is designed to provide speed and comfort to the passengers within the FCT and serve as a delight to tourists .”
The rail system will have modern facilities that include ultra modern edifices , modern shopping centres and eateries along the track. After the launch, the president and other dignitaries and journalists took a ride from the CBD metro station to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Also plans are ongoing in Lagos for the Lagos blue line;repairs and modifications will be made to existing rail lines. This could be the start of a new and efficient transport system in Nigeria.
