Senate probes controversial contracts and inefficiencies in Nigerian railway system

The Senate has begun an investigation into operational inefficiencies and insecurity in Nigeria’s railway system amid concerns over declining service delivery on major rail corridors.

The probe followed a personal explanation raised during plenary on Thursday, January 29, where a lawmaker drew attention to the deteriorating condition of key rail routes across the country.

Subsequently, Senate President Godswill Akpabio inaugurated an ad hoc committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the Nigerian railway system. The committee is tasked with examining project execution, funding, operational efficiency and overall service delivery, and is expected to submit its report within six weeks.

The committee, which was initially constituted in November 2025, is chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.

Expressing concern over the current state of rail services, Akpabio lamented the declining speed of the Abuja–Kaduna train service, noting that travel time on the route has deteriorated to the extent that a bicycle or commercial tricycle could reach Kaduna faster than the train.

Earlier, Senator Abdul Ningi had raised similar concerns, citing the poor condition of the Abuja–Kaduna–Kano rail line and alleging that the contract for the project was poorly executed.

Ningi further claimed that despite the rail line generating over ₦1.8 billion in revenue, there has been no corresponding improvement in service delivery. He noted that while the journey from Abuja to Kaduna initially took about one and a half hours, it now takes approximately three and a half hours.

He also stated that train operations on the route have been reduced to a single daily trip, with a 7:00 a.m. departure from Abuja and a return trip from Kaduna, compared to the multiple daily services that were previously available.