Some residents of Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have appealed to the federal government to set up a train service linking Abuja to Keffi.
They said this would offer citizens an alternative means of transportation.
They made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,NAN, Thursday in Keffi.
NAN reports that the since the commencement of Abuja-Kaduna train service, some Nigerians plying the route had embraced the alternative means of transport, thereby reducing the pressure on vehicular movement.
Due to the proximity of Nasarawa to Abuja and with some civil servants preferring to live in cheaper houses in border communities, it is not out of place to set up a train service for that corridor, to ease the pressure on the highway linking both places.
They added that the move would create alternative means of transport for citizens plying that axis, especially workers who have to get to their respective places of work as early as possible.
Mr Segun Damisa, a commuter, told NAN in Keffi that setting up the railway transport service for that route would be a game changer.
He added that it would also be a relief for commuters who suffer harrowing traffic gridlock daily on their way to work in Abuja in the morning and back to their homes in Nasarawa later in the day.
“If the train service is created for this place it will change everything. It will reduce the suffering that people are enduring every day on Abuja-Keffi highway.
“People will go to work and return on time. There won’t be issues of car failure and accidents will reduce.
”The train service will also help to reduce the constant gridlock on the road, as many people will leave their cars at home, leave the road and use the train.
“So I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the federal government to work out a train route for this place. It will really go a long way for Nigerians,” he said.
Hajiya Halima Adamu, another resident of Keffi, also clamoured for the train service, noting that it is a more secure means, compared to vehicular transportation.
“We keep hearing of how criminals stop vehicles on the highway to steal from passengers and the numerous ‘one- chance’ incidents. This is aside the constant accidents on the road.
“But with train, there is more security. Although it is not perfect. We heard about the derailment of a train from Abuja to Kaduna recently.
“So it is not perfect, but it is far safer than road transportation. So we really need it here and hope that government will listen and take action,” she said.
Mr Nwankwo Benedict said he wants the train service, as he needs to experience the success story that commuters of the Abuja-Kaduna train route had been experiencing.
He added that the construction of a railway line from Abuja to Keffi and Lafia- Makurdi, would facilitate easy transportation of goods, especially farm produce.
“A lot of people have been saying it is convenient, comfortable and reliable. I want government to construct it here, so that more Nigerians like myself can believe and embrace train transportation for good.
“You know we Nigerians rely heavily on road transportation, especially the poor and middle class, as air transport is too expensive.
“Train transportation, according to the comments we have heard, will go a long way for this class of Nigerians.
“The good thing is that because of the proximity of Nasarawa to Abuja, this project is doable and feasible, and probably, cheaper than the Abuja-Kaduna train service.
“From Abuja to Keffi will be probably 30 minutes or thereabout and the impact on the transportation of people, goods and services, will be massive.
“For me, it is going to be a win-win situation for government and the people,” he added. (NAN)
