ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Abuja light rail is poised to restart operations this week, potentially running for another year or two. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike announced that President Bola Tinubu would re-inaugurate the service as part of his first anniversary celebrations in office. This move signifies a rare moment of bipartisan cooperation, as the APC government benefits from Wike, a prominent figure in the opposition PDP.
In July 2018, the Abuja light rail was initially launched with much fanfare but soon fell into disrepair. Minister Wike, acknowledging the efforts needed to restore the service, highlighted the construction of access roads to the train stops, a project approved last October for N5.9 billion. However, the rapid completion of these roads has raised questions about their quality and the transparency of the process.
Minister Wike also identified several design omissions in the rail system, such as the lack of escalators, elevators, and adequate waiting room air-conditioning. Despite these issues, he assured that they would not hinder the resumption of services. He also emphasized significant savings in training costs, renegotiating a previously approved $128 million down to $75 million, saving the government $53 million.
These developments underline the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector. The Buhari administration faced criticism for its handling of rail projects, including the Abuja light rail. The resumption of the service is a step forward, but the government must ensure it is managed by experts to avoid future disruptions.
Bloomberg previously labeled the Abuja light rail as a ‘ghost train,’ a symbol of unfulfilled promises. As the service restarts, there is hope for a more sustainable and efficient operation, ensuring that the light rail becomes a reliable part of Abuja’s transport infrastructure.