₦airaland Forum

FACTCHECK:

This is a comprehensive note to provide the FACTS about #AbujaMetro aka Abuja Mass Transit Rail. You won't find all these details in one place anywhere else.

The forthcoming #AbujaMetro event is NOT a "Commissioning." The FCTA is NOT calling it a commissioning—their statement says it is a "Commencement of Commercial Operations."

Key Phrase there is "Commercial Operations".

Between the Commissioning in 2018, and Covid in 2020, the #AbujaMetro ran what you can call a trial service or test-run. (Normal stuff -- Recall that the Lagos Blue Line also did a test-run between February 2023 and September 2023, when full commercial operations kicked off).

#AbujaMetro was commissioned by @MBuhari on July 12, 2018 -- Photos attached. It is the FIRST "Mass Rapid Transit" (MRT) system in West Africa, ahead of Dakar and Lagos. The project was completed by FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello: x.com/ngrpresident/s…

Operations were suspended during Covid, and the project subsequently suffered significant vandalisation.

Here's what the then Permanent Secretary, FC, Olusade Adesola said during a visit on October 30, 2022: "You will recall that the project was TEST RUN shortly after it was commissioned and thereafter, the advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in a forced closure and suspension of the operations."

This is what the Director of Transportation of FCTA, Joseph Akinteye said, on August 5, 2023: “Unfortunately, the TRIAL SERVICE ended abruptly in March 2020 due to the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and its extant protocols..."

#AbujaMetro TIMELINE

July 12, 2018: PMB inaugurates/commissions the project -- and trial service / test run commences soon after

March 2020: The trial service is suspended, following the outbreak of Covid-19
vanguardngr.com/2020/11/covid-…

News Story, December 2021: "Abuja Metro Line suspended over vandalism" -- "The Acting Secretary, FCTA Transport Secretariat, Usman Yahaya told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that at the last count, '48 points were vandalised.'"
21stcenturychronicle.com/investigation-…

August 24, 2022: The Federal Executive Council approves a security contract for #AbujaMetro: x.com/OfficialFCTA/s…

August 4, 2023: FCT Permanent Secretary (who's in charge of the Ministry, as Cabinet hasn't been inaugurated yet) formally announces that a N5 Billion Contract has been awarded to CCECC for the repairs / restoration of the vandalized #AbujaMetro infrastructure. He made the announcement at the ceremony to flag-off the repairs (4th photo, attached)
nannews.ng/2023/08/05/fct…
thecable.ng/fcta-awards-n5…

[NB. I believe that this rehabilitation contract was approved by the (outgoing) FEC earlier in 2023. Will get the exact date/details of this FEC approval and share]

August 23, 2023: Two (2) days after being sworn-in as FCT Minister, HM Wike undertakes his first Tour of #AbujaMetro, and pledges to ensure that the rehabilitation contract is fully funded and that the line is back in operation as soon as possible.

October 30, 2023: Federal Executive Council approves N5.9 billion for construction of outstanding access roads to #AbujaMetro Stations leadership.ng/fcta-to-comple…

News Story, December 2023: "Thirteen suspects, 10 of whom were casual workers, engaged by a Chinese company, have been arrested for vandalism of armoured cables and other associated equipment of Abuja mass transit rail. Their arrest was effected by a private guard company contracted to safeguard the infrastructure."
thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023…

January 11, 2024: FCT Minister undertakes Inspection Tour of #AbujaMetro

January 31, 2024: FCT Minister undertakes Tour of #AbujaMetro, to inspect construction of outstanding access roads to Stations (including the access roads to Wupa and Basanjiwa Stations).

May 23, 2024: FCTA Press Statement -- "The commencement of commercial operations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System also known as the Abuja Light Rail will now be flagged off on Democracy Day, Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at 1:00 pm."

— Tolu Ogunlesi

Svoboda:
Not necessarily so. I have supported Buhari as much as i am supporting Tinubu now, because I love Nigeria. I however, only point out discrepancies where i find them, like in this very case.

FACTCHECK:

This is a comprehensive note to provide the FACTS about #AbujaMetro aka Abuja Mass Transit Rail. You won't find all these details in one place anywhere else.

The forthcoming #AbujaMetro event is NOT a "Commissioning." The FCTA is NOT calling it a commissioning—their statement says it is a "Commencement of Commercial Operations."

Key Phrase there is "Commercial Operations".

Between the Commissioning in 2018, and Covid in 2020, the #AbujaMetro ran what you can call a trial service or test-run. (Normal stuff -- Recall that the Lagos Blue Line also did a test-run between February 2023 and September 2023, when full commercial operations kicked off).

#AbujaMetro was commissioned by @MBuhari on July 12, 2018 -- Photos attached. It is the FIRST "Mass Rapid Transit" (MRT) system in West Africa, ahead of Dakar and Lagos. The project was completed by FCT Minister Muhammad Musa Bello: x.com/ngrpresident/s…

Operations were suspended during Covid, and the project subsequently suffered significant vandalisation.

Here's what the then Permanent Secretary, FC, Olusade Adesola said during a visit on October 30, 2022: "You will recall that the project was TEST RUN shortly after it was commissioned and thereafter, the advent of the COVID pandemic resulted in a forced closure and suspension of the operations."

This is what the Director of Transportation of FCTA, Joseph Akinteye said, on August 5, 2023: “Unfortunately, the TRIAL SERVICE ended abruptly in March 2020 due to the advent of COVID-19 pandemic and its extant protocols..."

#AbujaMetro TIMELINE

July 12, 2018: PMB inaugurates/commissions the project -- and trial service / test run commences soon after

March 2020: The trial service is suspended, following the outbreak of Covid-19
vanguardngr.com/2020/11/covid-…

News Story, December 2021: "Abuja Metro Line suspended over vandalism" -- "The Acting Secretary, FCTA Transport Secretariat, Usman Yahaya told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE that at the last count, '48 points were vandalised.'"
21stcenturychronicle.com/investigation-…

August 24, 2022: The Federal Executive Council approves a security contract for #AbujaMetro: x.com/OfficialFCTA/s…

August 4, 2023: FCT Permanent Secretary (who's in charge of the Ministry, as Cabinet hasn't been inaugurated yet) formally announces that a N5 Billion Contract has been awarded to CCECC for the repairs / restoration of the vandalized #AbujaMetro infrastructure. He made the announcement at the ceremony to flag-off the repairs (4th photo, attached)
nannews.ng/2023/08/05/fct…
thecable.ng/fcta-awards-n5…

[NB. I believe that this rehabilitation contract was approved by the (outgoing) FEC earlier in 2023. Will get the exact date/details of this FEC approval and share]

August 23, 2023: Two (2) days after being sworn-in as FCT Minister, HM Wike undertakes his first Tour of #AbujaMetro, and pledges to ensure that the rehabilitation contract is fully funded and that the line is back in operation as soon as possible.

October 30, 2023: Federal Executive Council approves N5.9 billion for construction of outstanding access roads to #AbujaMetro Stations leadership.ng/fcta-to-comple…

News Story, December 2023: "Thirteen suspects, 10 of whom were casual workers, engaged by a Chinese company, have been arrested for vandalism of armoured cables and other associated equipment of Abuja mass transit rail. Their arrest was effected by a private guard company contracted to safeguard the infrastructure."
thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023…

January 11, 2024: FCT Minister undertakes Inspection Tour of #AbujaMetro

January 31, 2024: FCT Minister undertakes Tour of #AbujaMetro, to inspect construction of outstanding access roads to Stations (including the access roads to Wupa and Basanjiwa Stations).

May 23, 2024: FCTA Press Statement -- "The commencement of commercial operations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System also known as the Abuja Light Rail will now be flagged off on Democracy Day, Wednesday, May 29th, 2024 by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at 1:00 pm."

— Tolu Ogunlesi

Svoboda:
Thank you sir. But i dare say in that case, any stretch of our infrastructure that suffers vandalsim or serious damage, and repairs or replacement are carried out, would as well require the presence of a NOTABLE for operations to commence, and thats not minding that that stretch of infrastructure has previously been in use.

I personally know the game Wike is playing. Inviting PBAT to that funfare is also designed to erase PMBs previous launch of the project.

Svoboda:
If commercial ops were launched by fmr PMB in 2018 and they was a subsequent usurpation of those operations, the least Wike could have done was to carry out a simple resumption of operations. He doesbt have to drag PBAT into a relauanch. No 2 presidents launch same projects.

I've observed this administration hardly gives credit or commendation to PMB. No govt so far can match pmbs feat in infradtructure. He needs his flowers.

naptu2:
Because

1) They had to replace the vandalised materials. This involves spending money, so he has to inform Nigerians and the National Assembly about the money being spent.

2) They had to install security features to prevent vandalisation. This involves spending money and they have to inform Nigerians and the National Assembly about the money being spent.

3) He also noticed other amendments that had to be carried out (like inclusion of escalators and elevators) and he had to inform Nigerians and the National Assembly about it.

4) The trains are now going to be test run with free rides and he has to inform Nigerians (who will ride the train).

5) He also has to show President Tinubu what he has done.

All these are what you call fanfare and feat.

Irony1:
So why is Wike making it a fanfare and making it seem like a feat?

Islie:
Facilities at the stadium station of the Abuja light rail system have been stolen by vandals, leaving the station that was commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018 as a caricature.

Daily Trust visited the light rail station on Monday, and observed that the industrial and electrical cables as well as air conditioners equipment were carted away.

The hoodlums also removed the cables along the rail track as well as heavy nuts used to tie the track.

The light rail project, which was commissioned by Buhari sometimes in 2018, has not been functioning well since then.

Some technical staff, working at some of the stations, said many facilities both at the stations and on the track have been removed.

It was further learnt that the FCT Administration still owes the Chinese company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd.

It was learnt that the company withdrew their infantries from the station, while the three Civil Defence officers at the station were not properly armed to guard the facilities.

The Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Malam Zakari Angulu Dobi, who also visited the station yesterday, said he was there to ascertain the level of damages to the project by the vandals.

He said such ugly incident happened because the facilities are not been put into constant use and assured that the light rail project would soon begin full operations after the repairs.

Dobi said work would also start soonest on 5.76 kilometres rail track, which is expected to gulp $272 million.
http://saharareporters.com/2022/04/05/vandals-destroy-abuja-light-rail-station-commissioned-buhari-2018

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.