Senate Starts Investigation Into Railway Problems

Senate Starts Investigation Into Railway Problems

Nigeria’s Senate has opened an investigation into problems affecting the country’s railway network after lawmakers raised alarm over slow services and rising security concerns.

The decision was taken on Thursday during plenary, following complaints about worsening conditions on major rail routes.

The move came after a senator used a personal explanation to draw attention to what he described as the steady decline in rail operations across the country. Lawmakers agreed that the situation required urgent attention, prompting the Senate leadership to act.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio later announced the formation of an ad hoc committee to carry out a broad review of the railway sector.

The panel is tasked with examining how rail projects are executed, how funds are used, how trains are operated, and how services are delivered. It has been given six weeks to submit its findings.

The committee, first set up in November 2025, is chaired by Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
During the session, Akpabio expressed worry over the Abuja–Kaduna rail service, noting that travel time on the route has slowed badly.

According to him, travel time has increased from about one and a half hours to roughly three and a half hours, while daily trips have dropped to just one departure from Abuja in the morning and a return from Kaduna.