Abuja Rail Transit Service To Resume, 4 Diesel Multiple Unit, Others Procured — FCTA

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has procured four sets of brand new Diesel Multiple Units, DMUs, Rescue Cranes, and Rail Grinding Machines to ensure the restoration of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit service.

The Secretary of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, Zakari Angulu, made the disclosure at a news conference on Thursday, in Abuja.

Mr Angulu said that the importance of railway as a means of mass movement of people couldn’t be overemphasize, adding that the service would provide residents with cheaper, efficient and safe transportation system.

He added that the restoration of rail service would also provide residents with an environmentally friendly transportation system as well as serve as additional source of revenue to the FCT administration.

“We visited some stations under the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project namely the Metro Station and Idu Locomotive Yard as part of my familiarisation tour to transportation secretariat project site.

“We saw the urgent need to get the mass transit programme back on tract following the long break in operation which came up as part of efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT.

“We are back to the drawing board to see how early the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) services will be restored.

“As of today, four sets of brand new Diesel Multiple Units (DMUS) – 01,02,03 and 04, Rescue Cranes and Rail Grinding Machines have been delivered.

“Although one of the DMUS was used during the familiarisation tour from Metro Station to Idu Locomotive Yard, efforts are in top gear to rehabilitate the rail facilities that were vandalised so that our planned resumption of passenger service operation can commence as soon as possible.”

Mr Angulu said the secretariat was devising measures that would make movements along the tracks a pleasurable one devoid of mishap in order to keep unauthorised persons including animals away from the tracks.

He disclosed that an access barricading contract that entails the construction of block walls on both sides of the tracks was awarded to various companies and the projects are almost completed.

“While we are desirous of resuming operations with the four DMUS, the Administration is expecting the delivery of the remaining eight sets of DMUs from China in the near future.

“Work will soon resume on the Lot 1A 5.76km (Gbazango to Kubwa) to complete Lots 1 and 3 of the Abuja Light Rail Project.”

The secretary said that the FCT Administration would continue to provide pedestrian bridges at very critical areas where large number of people often converge to cross from one end of the road to the other.

He said upon identification of those locations, the secretariat commenced the procurement processes for the construction of the bridges.

”The bridges under construction are as follows; Kitwe Street behind Wuse Market, Kubwa Expressway by Arab Junction, Dutse Alhaji, Lungi Barracks, Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by Gudu junction, Katampe, Jahi, and Sabon Lugbe.

”These projects are at various levels of completion,” he said.

Angulu revealed that the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services generated N3,795,634,120.78 between January and end of November, saying ” this is an improvement from the N3,502,783,176.08 generated between January to December, 2020.”

”The Directorate will intensify efforts in 2022 to surpass the achievements recorded in 2021.” NAN