It is contained in the NBS Rail Transportation Data for Q4 2023 released in Abuja on Monday.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the report showed a decrease of 7.51 per cent compared to the N1.15 billion generated in Q4 of 2022.

It further explained that the revenue from goods/cargoes swelled by 169.16 per cent to N423.22 million from N157.23 million generated in the same period of the previous year.

Other receipts, according to the data grew by 3.02 per cent from the N382.17 million recorded in Q4 2022 to N393.72 million recorded in Q4 2023.

According to the report, “the number of rail transport passengers in Q4 2023 declined by 49.73 per cent to 672,198 instead of 1,337,108 in the prior period.”

It explained that on an annual basis, the number of rail transport passengers decreased by 32.08 per cent, from 3,212,948 recorded in 2022 to 2,182,388 recorded in 2023, saying that the revenue received from passengers declined by 2.64 per cent in 2023 from the N4.55 billion recorded in 2022 to N4.43 billion in 2023.

The National Bureau of Statistics stated that the volume of cargo and revenue from cargo in 2023 increased by 102.04 per cent and 144.32 per cent respectively, compared with 2022.

Recall that the NRC had stopped operations on the route, following an attack on a train by bandits causing the death of eight passengers, while many were kidnapped.

But in a statement on Friday, Yakubu Mahmood, the spokesperson of NRC, said a new date would be announced soon.

“Sequel to our earlier Press Release No. 10 dated 16th May 2022 on the above caption, the General Public is kindly invited to note the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is announcing a shift in the resumption date for Abuja Kaduna,” the statement reads.

Mahmood also assured the distraught families that it was working hard to secure the victims’ release.

This comes as the Federal Government orders the reopening of the Abuja-Kaduna train service, saying the decision to resume services does not mean efforts to secure the safe release of those abducted will be put on hold.

But the aggrieved relatives insisted that there will be no resumption of train services until all 61 passengers who were abducted are rescued.

Reacting to the statement by the NRC on the planned Resumption of Services to Channels Television, the chairman of the concerned Relatives of Abducted Persons, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh accused the NRC management of being insensitive towards the plight of the victims and their families.

While reiterating their earlier call for the immediate sack of the NRC management over gross incompetence, Jimoh lamented that most of the relatives of the victims have become helpless with some of them attempting to commit suicide due to the lingering stay of their loved ones in the custody of the terrorists.

He, however, appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to facilitate the speedy rescue of the kidnapped victims as the commander in chief of the nation’s Armed Forces, adding that the lives of the people should be of them attempting to commit suicide due to the lingering stay of their loved ones in the custody of the terrorists.

He, however, appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to facilitate the speedy rescue of the kidnapped victims as the commander in chief of the nation’s Armed Forces, adding that the lives of the people should be of utmost importance to the President and the Federal government.

Recall that gunmen had on the on March 28, 2022, attacked passengers on an Abuja-Kaduna bound train at Dutse Forest in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state.

Eight People lost their lives, 26 were injured while 62 others including women and children were kidnapped during the attack.

So far, only two of  the victims has been released, while the remaining 60 are yet to secure their release making it 50 days in custody of the gunmen.

Managing Director of the NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria made the announcement on Thursday April 14, saying it would enhance the safety and security of rail users.

Okhiria also said the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service will resume as soon as possible with additional security measures put in place.

He said; “The process of linking passengers to their NIN for improved profiling is ongoing. This layer of passenger screening will commence by May.The Abuja-Kaduna Train Service will resume as soon as possible with additional security measures put in place.While we continue to sympathise with families of those who lost or have not seen their loved ones, we encourage anyone still looking for a loved one to please call us.The numbers to call are 08033546208, 08060044600 and 07066700150.The corporation will continue to update the general public of the latest developments.This means that all the 14 de-railed rolling stock (11 coaches, two rescue coaches and one locomotive engine on the rescue train) have all been re-railed – from the incident site to our stations at Idu, Abuja and Rigasa, Kaduna.Intensive track repair work continues at the site. An advanced level of track repairs has been achieved and hopefully, it will be rounded off in 10 days.The NRC expresses its profound gratitude to security agencies for the continued support, especially for the security cover availed our officials and staff at the incident site.”

This is coming after terrorists attacked an Abuja-Kaduna bound train. 8 passengers were killed while many others were abducted.

This comes almost week after suspected terrorists bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail tracks and attacked a train filled with passengers on Monday night.

The NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, made this known in a statement on Monday, stating that the number of safe passengers had risen to 186.

According to him, 51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or unreachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end.

About 22 persons are reported missing by their relatives and eight persons were confirmed dead, the statement disclosed.

The statement read in part, “51 phone numbers on the manifest are either switched off or have not been reachable since Tuesday morning and 35 phone numbers on the manifest are ringing, but no response from the other end. 60 phone numbers on the manifest when called, responded non-existent.

“The statement is aimed at updating Nigerians on the ongoing development regarding the clearing of the incident site (recovery of the rolling stock, repairs of the track) and status of Passengers that were onboard the AK9 train of Monday, March 28.

“Of the 362 validated passengers on board the attacked AK9 train service on March 28, 186 persons on the manifest are confirmed to be safe and at their various homes (additional 14 persons confirmed safe today).

“Two coaches (SP 00016 and SP 00017) earlier re-railed have safely been moved to Rigasa Station.

“This brings the total number of recovered Coaches and safely moved to NRC Stations to be seven. Intensive work continues on track repairs. More concrete Sleepers were moved to site while some section of twisted tracks has been straightened.

“We remain grateful to the security agencies for all the support. We are very appreciative of Squadron Commander MOPOL 1 Kaduna’s visit to the accident site today.

“NRC will continue to update the general public of developments to prevent misleading information and falsehood.”

The Minister, while speaking at the launch of the e-ticketing in Abuja said the e-ticketing platform was another milestone for the NRC, the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Government.

Amaechi, expresses hope that deploying the secured ticketing solution is in line with world best practice, and will enhance efficiency, save time and promote accountability.

“This project which is a Public-Private Partnership is a product of over three years of rigorous procurement process and due diligence involving the NRC, NITDA and finally obtaining approval from the Federal Executive Council.

“Today marks the beginning of the automation of ticket sales in all our major stations on the Abuja Kaduna train service. This is a total package that also includes access control which will be deployed subsequently.

“It is my believe that deploying the secured ticketing solution is in line with world best practice, and will enhance efficiency, save time and promote accountability while also reducing leakages and promoting economic growth.”