Residents of the Federal Capital Territory have said that the present operations of the Abuja light rail is only beneficial to the rich and not for the ordinary residents.
A cross sessions of the residents are also calling on the FCT Administration to take a cue from the Lagos blue rail light project.
Abuja Metro reports that the commercial operations of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit System also known as the Abuja Light Rail was commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2024, who declared a six months free ride for the residents of the nation’s capital.
Although, the light rail, built by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation at a cost of $823 million has commenced operation, the impact appears to be minimal as the light rail only runs from the airport to the Abuja metro station at the Central Business District.
There are twelve stations, with stops at the airport, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Kukwaba I, Kukwaba II, and the Abuja metro.
Many people who work in Nigeria’s capital live on the outskirts of Abuja or satellite towns, due to the high cost of accommodation in the city areas.
Mr Toyin Ajayi, an Abuja-based public affairs analyst, said the concept of Abuja light project was good but the planning and the initial design was poor.
He said, ‘’I can’t imagine how such good but capital-intensive project can be so designed to only connect a point at the city centre to the airport, when majority of Abuja residents are in satellite towns like Bwari, Kubwa, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, Mararaba, Kuje among others. How many of Abuja residents are going to the airport if not the rich men and their families, in most cases?’’
Another resident, Mrs Ijeoma Florence Caleb, berated the initial concept of the project, saying special attention should have been paid to those in the satellite towns.
She said ‘’You can’t spend such amount on a transport project and only concentrate its service in the city centre and the airports. How many people live in those areas?’’
Mr Tajudeen Jimoh, a civil servant, asked the FCT Administration, to learn from the state government how is handling its blue and red rails projects.
He said Lagosian were now happy that the concept is addressing the chaotic traffic situation being experienced at the nation’s commercial capital.
He said, ‘’If you go to Lagos, you will see how this blue rail service is working. Even the BRT buses are still being used. What happened to the El-Rufai and the green buses in Abuja? They have almost pack up. The officials need to learn from the handlers of the Lagos transport scheme.’’
Expansion of rail services good but… -Wike
Ahead of the commissioning of the Abuja light Rail project last year, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, acknowledged the significance of linking areas like Nyanya to the rail network but said the financial implications needed to be looked into.
While refraining from making any definitive commitments, the minister told journalists that discussions with the contractor would determine future actions.
He said, “I am not committing anything now, because we are taking everything step by step.
“We have to first of all, consider the financial implications. Linking areas like Nyanya are important, no doubt about it. We will talk to the contractor to see what we can do, but for now, there is no commitment.”
When Abuja Metro visited the FCT Transport Secretariat yesterday, a senior official of the Secretariat, said the situation remained the same with what the minister said ahead of the inauguration.
He said, ‘’The Administration is determined to expand the services to satellite towns but you know this will cost a huge amount of money. So, when this is available, the work would be contracted out.’’