The Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali while undertaking an unscheduled inspection of the Kubwa (Abuja) Train Station on Monday, has challenged the design of the train station which does not give easy access to the physically challenged and the elderly to use train services.
Even though the Minister later 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 has to rely on alternative sources to power their operations.
Senator Alkali also sought “to see that the security and welfare of passengers are not compromised,” as he later disclosed.
The inspection visit of the Minister was undertaken in the company of his Permanent Secretary, Adeleye Adeoye; the Director, Rail Transport Services, Engr. Fimbarr Zirarr; the Director, Press and Public Relations, and aides of the Minister.
The Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria was quick to join the Minister’s entourage, right on time for the inspection.
On getting to the station a few minutes after the scheduled train had left the station, the 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 power supply not on, when the work day was not yet ended.
The minister thereafter proceeded to see the vandalised power installation. He was taken round by the station manager.
For the vandalised power installation, Senator Alkali urged a quick liaison by Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and the station manager with Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for a quick restoration and ensure more security for the facility.
Further inspecting more of the station’s facilities, Senator Alkali discovered that the staircase that passengers use when disembarking from trains coming inward to Kubwa, Abuja from Rigasa in Abuja, are not friendly to the physically challenged and the elderly. There is no escalator. Senator Alkali saw this as an error of design, which did not consider the physically challenged and the elderly. He, there, and then asked the Director, Rail Services, to note so that the right things could be done “at the level of the Ministry, the NRC, and the contractor.”
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 which was working, the Minister asked, should be powered for him to observe how it works.
The convenience at the train station was also not spared. The Minister wants more attention 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 facility.
