By Philip Shimnom Clement


The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike on Thursday in Abuja claimed that past government inaugurated the buildings at the Abuja Light Rail centre, insinuating that there was no previous launching of the infrastructure for commercial operation.

Wike made the disclosure at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate activities marking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first year in office.


Verdict: Misleading

What Wike said

During the ministerial sectoral updates in Abuja on Thursday, Wike announced that President Tinubu would inaugurate commercial operation of the Abuja metro line, stating that the present administration would be launching the actual metro operations, and not buildings.

The President is set to ride the metro line on Monday, May 27, and from Tuesday, free rides will be available to the public for two months.

Wike said the move aims to alleviate transportation costs for residents and aligns with the Tinubu government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He stated, “We are not talking of commissioning buildings, but the commercial operation. There were no access roads to the stations, which impeded the operation of the metro line.

“The President will ride on the metro line on Monday, 27th May; it will be your turn, Nigerians, as from Tuesday.

“And there will be free rides for two months, to reduce the pain on our people, that is what is called the Renewed Hope Agenda.”


Verification

Checks by Daily Trust revealed that former President Muhammadu Buhari on July 12 2018 inaugurated the Abuja light rail project describing it as “A dream come true”

He took a ride from the Abuja metro station to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, signalling the commencement of operations of the long-awaited rail services in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.

He charged the FCT administration, especially, the management of the rail services, to ensure efficient operations, good customer service and maintenance culture.

The ceremony took place at the new metro station in central business district (CBD), Abuja.

“The Abuja Light Rail System is further evidence that we are a government that delivers on its promises. A modern rail service will greatly boost the FCT economy and enhance social life,” Buhari had said.

Subsequently Daily Trust had also published a photo of former President Buhari taking a ride on the train with former FCT minister Mohammed Bello and former minister of information Lai Mohamed as well as other government dignitaries.


About the project

Further checks by Daily Trust show that the 45.245km standard guage rail line from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Abuja Metro Station is the first of its kind in West Africa and took over 11 years to complete.

The project financed through counterpart-funding with the China Export Import (Exim) Bank on the basis of 60 per cent from the Chinese and 40 percent from the FCT administration.

It will link 13 communities with 12 stations at the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba 1 and 2, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Airport, Gwagwa Dei-Dei, Kagini and Gbazango.

The then minister of FCT, Muhammad Bello, noted that Buhari only inaugurated phase 1 of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project (ARMTP), adding that the FCTA was already working on phase II of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Project to cover a distance of 32.54km from Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway at Garki Area I via the Transportation Centre to Gwagwa and from Bazango Station to Kubwa.

Bello added that the federal executive council approved the project in 2017 for construction by CCECC at a cost of US$1.3 billion, expressing hope that the Ministry of Finance would consider putting the project in the next borrowing plans.


Conclusion

Former President Buhari indeed launched commercial operations of the Abuja light project in 2018, invalidating Wike’s insinuation that there was no previous inauguration of commercial operation of the metro line.

flokii:
How I wish they can secure the rail corridor with high tension electric lines such that any trespasser attempting to attack the train will be eletrocuted instantly.. they should consider this option to make train services in Nigeria especially around Abuja-Kaduna more secure.

JagabanB:

When was the last time incidents like this happened around Kaduna-Abuja?

flokii:


Have you ever been to Abuja or even Kaduna?.. cos if you know how volatile the area is, you wouldn't be asking such queation.

JagabanB:

I took off from Kakuri in Kaduna exactly 8:30pm on Monday, this Monday that just passed, I went to Lokoja through Abuja, I got to my hotel at about 1-2am can't remember the exact time.
You know the reality?
That particular road is flooded with vehicles even in the dead of the night.
That's not the first time I am using that road at night.
You probably haven't been to Abuja or Kaduna that's why you are typing what you are typing.
It's a road I comfortably ply at night if I have commitments to meet up with the following morning.

flokii:


You have no idea of places I've been to in this Nigeria and roads I've plied.. desert o, hotbed of insecurity, etc. we dey there.
My humble suggestion is for preventive measure against train attacks. shikena.

JagabanB:

You also have no idea where I have plied, you just gave a very wrong info about Kaduna-Abuja road and rail, I ask you again, when was the last time such incident happened?
I have been to every stretch of Nigeria apart from Sambisa, I don't share fàke news, I share reality and I can cite examples to you that I have been there.
If you travel like you claim, you won't make such lousy comments about Kaduna-Abuja axis.

flokii:


Let me not join issues with you.. you've won.

JagabanB:

You also have no idea where I have plied, you just gave a very wrong info about Kaduna-Abuja road and rail, I ask you again, when was the last time such incident happened?
I have been to every stretch of Nigeria apart from Sambisa, I don't share fàke news



And jagaban is in your moniker, kai! Agbadorians won't kill person with laugh





,



I share reality and I can cite examples to you that I have been there.
If you travel like you claim, you won't make such lousy comments about Kaduna-Abuja axis.

flokii:


You have no idea of places I've been to in this Nigeria and roads I've plied.. desert o, hotbed of insecurity, etc. we dey there.
My humble suggestion is for preventive measure against train attacks. shikena.

flokii:


Let me not join issues with you.. you've won.

Dannupawa:
...EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH WORK QUALITY



1. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Monday, May 20, 2024, inspected the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system, ahead of the flag-off of its commercial operations by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of the first-anniversary celebration of the Federal Government.



2. The FCT Minister’s inspection visit commenced at the Abuja Metro Station in the Central Business District where he inspected facilities, then rode on the train, making stops at the Stadium, Idu, and the Airport stations along the route.



3. The Minister who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and the facilities at the train stations, said the project was ready to be inaugurated for commercial operation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the promise made by the President has become a reality.



4. According to the FCT Minister, “In a few days, the President will inaugurate the commercial operation of this Metro line. We have to thank God Almighty that we are good to go. We are ready and you can see the facilities. So, we are very happy and we thank God the promise Mr. President made has been kept”.



5. The FCT Minister further disclosed that the access roads to the train stations were also completed, adding that residents from the various communities would be able to drive to any of the train stations and board the train to their destination.



6.

7. He however stated that some of the facilities that were omitted during the design of the project, including escalators and elevators for the sick and elderly as well as air-cooling systems, especially, in the waiting areas, would also be taken into consideration and corrected in due course, while assuring that the omission would not hinder operations.



8. He said, “We have been able to identify one or two things that were omitted during the design and we believe that during the operation, some of those things will be taken into consideration.



9. “Particularly, I believe that as a standard metro line, where the passengers will be waiting to board the trains, there should be air conditioners.



10. “I also thought that some of the stations should have had escalators and elevators for probably those who are very old and those who may not have the strength to walk or to climb the staircases.



11. “Apart from that, I think we are happy with the work that has been done and we believe Nigerians will be happy, particularly the residents of the FCT”.



12. Barrister Wike who attributed the achievements by the FCT Administration to the support of President Bola Tinubu also thanked the President for giving him the necessary support.



13. He said, “Assuming we are not getting his support, this wouldn’t have been a reality. So, we want to thank him for the support”.



14. Speaking further on the funding details for the project, Barrister Wike also disclosed that the FCT Administration was able to renegotiate the training cost for personnel from $128 million to $75 million, thereby saving about 53 Million Dollars for the Federal Government.



15. He said “Before we came, the former Administration approved $128 million for the training of our people by CCECC for 29 months and we said no that’s very exorbitant. We renegotiated with CCECC and now it has been brought down to 75 million dollars. We have saved no less than $53 million US Dollars for the government.



16. The Abuja Rail Mass Transit scheme consists of eight stations, the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba I, Kukwaba II, Wupa, Idu, Basanjiwa and Airport stations.

ANTHONY OGUNLEYE

DIRECTOR OF PRESS

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER

20/05/2024

FCTA/ODP/PR/540


PHOTO CAPTIONS



1, FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike stepping out of an Abuja Metro train coach during his tour of facilities of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system in Abuja on Monday

2 . FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike (left) with the Secretary for Transportation Hon Chinedu Elechi (right) at the Abuja Metro station during minister's tour of facilities at the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system on Monday.