The Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali has challenged the design of the Kubwa train station in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, which does not give easy access to the persons with physical disabilities and the elderly to use train services.
The Minister who undertook an unscheduled inspection of the Kubwa Abuja Train station, disclosed that his visit was informed primarily by the report of vandalism of the main power supply from the national grid to the Train Station, which he received.
The power source vandalism has plunged the Kubwa Train Station into darkness and its management had to rely on alternative sources to power their operations.
Alkali urged a quick liaison by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and the station manager with Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for a quick restoration and to ensure more security for the facility.
Further inspecting more of the station’s facilities, Alkali discovered that the staircase that passengers use when disembarking from trains coming inward to Kubwa, Abuja from Rigasa in Abuja, is not friendly to the persons with physically disabilities and the elderly. He, therefore asked the director, Rail Services, to take note so that the right things would be done “at the level of the Ministry, the NRC, and the contractor.”
Senator Alkali also sought “to see that the security and welfare of passengers are not compromised,” as he later disclosed.
The also Minister expressed dismay that many staff members were not at their duty post and generally, the station was almost shut down with the luggage security scanners, as well as the power supply not on, when the work day had not yet ended.
The Minister also inspected the communication rooms where he got to know that the communication equipment installed there had stopped working.
“As well, one of the two Installed luggage security scanners has also stopped working. The one that was working,” the Minister demanded, should be powered for him to observe how it works.
The convenience at the train station was also not spared as the Minister said more attention be given to the convenience to ensure that services to the users of the train station are top-notch.
The Minister also expressed the view that the car park at the Kubwa Train Station was poorly maintained, with flood waters adding more woes to the potholes that dotted the motor park.
In Alkali’s words, after the inspection, we have taken note of several facilities that should serve the users of the station. We will be retreating to the office to do the needful at the level of the ministry, the Railway Corporation, and of course, the contractor, to see how we can fix” the facilities.