The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja- Kaduna

  • Abuja-Kaduna highway ‘dangerous’

    The Senate yesterday labelled the popular Abuja-Kaduna highway one of the most dangerous roads in Africa due to the activities of kidnappers and armed bandits on the expressway.

    The Senate’s position may be contrary to the declaration of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, who assured travellers plying the route that the road had been cleared of undesirable elements.

    Senator Shehu Sani, from Kaduna State, who contributed to a motion on “Urgent need to increase the number of couches to the Abuja-Kaduna railway line,” described the highway as one of the most dangerous on the continent.

    Senator James Manager, from Delta State, countered that the highway is the most dangerous in Africa.

    The Delta Central senator noted that it was apparent that only those who wanted to commit suicide would ply the road.

    Sani said the motion should be the saving grace for the rich and the poor.

    He added that the government should patronise local manufacturers for the production of couches.

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) urged government to increase the frequency of the train service between Abuja and Kaduna. Na’Allah said the impression should not be created that the expressway had been abandoned to kidnappers and bandits.

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), described the motion as very important.

    He told his colleagues that he just returned from China on a trip that was necessitated by the pressure on the rail lines.

    According to him, the Federal Government had paid for 64 couches, eight of which will be delivered within eight weeks.

    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South) said the Senate should take into cognisance the fact the rail lines were built with borrowed funds.

    The senator noted that the view of the Nigerian Railway Corporation should be taken into account in relation to fare.

    Ndume, in his lead debate, expressed concern about undue pressure on existing facilities on the Abuja-Kaduna railway line.

    Most passengers en route Abuja-Kaduna, he said, turned to the railway as a safer means of transportation.

    The Borno State senator said he was aware that the surge in the patronage of the rail services may have been attributed to its safety, comfort, convenience and perhaps affordability.

    These, he said, drew many commuters, following the high risks on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, occasioned by the activities of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals.

    The surge, he added, has led to rowdiness during ticket purchase and survival of the fittest for passengers willing to buy tickets across the counters as officials deliberately hoard and sold tickets to the highest bidders.

  • FERMA to complete repair on Abuja – Kaduna road

    The Managing Director, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Engr. Nurudeen Rafindadi, has assured early completion of the Abuja – Kaduna road in no distant time.

    He said all hitches preventing free flow of traffic on the road will be addressed.

    Speaking during an inspection of projects along the road, Rafindadi said the Abuja – Kaduna highway like other roads in the country, is undergoing maintenance repairs under the FERMA’s 12 weeks intervention programme.

    “This road is so crucial because it is the gateway to North Western zone of the country,” he said.

    According to a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the following projects are presently being executed along the carriageway to ease free flow of traffic.

    They included, Pavement Maintenance Work at Dikko U-Turn Ch. 19+900, Provision of Double Pipe Culvert and Washout Reinstatement Ch. 25+800, Shoulder Reinstatement at Taffa Ch. 29+399-Ch.31+200, Reinstatement of Washout Ch. 15+500, Pavement Maintenance at 2nd Dikko U-Turn Ch. 20+200.”

    According to the statement by FERMA Director of Communications and Public Relations, Mrs. Maryam Sanusi, Dikko U-Turn has been known to be notorious for constituting serious hindrance to free flow of traffic; with multiple failed sections and washouts.

    “The Agency is currently restoring the failed sections along this bad spot and overlaying of the entire stretch,” he added.

    In his remarks, Triacta Project Manager, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Gwuas, said “the work has reached an advanced stage and in the matter of weeks, there will be free flow of traffic along that particular section”.

    The FERMA MD was also at Tafa Trailer Park.

    “This section along the Abuja – Kaduna road has been the traveler’s nightmare, because the shoulder has been eroded due to indiscriminate parking of Trucks.  They deliberately park on the carriageway thereby reducing the available lane for motorists. This often leads to serious traffic jam.

    “The Agency is reinstating the eroded shoulder and also constructing over 1km additional lane on both sides of the carriageway. This will help in removing the Trailers off the carriageway which will eventually allow for free flow of traffic along that axis.

    “The MD bemoaned the bad attitude of truck drivers who parked indiscriminately along the road. He said from a survey, between Abuja and Kano, tankers drop 5 drums of oil on the road cumulatively everyday and this chemical degrade the pavement, making it to wear off easily,” the statement reads.

    However, he called for special infrastructure and facility to serve as trailer park along road corridors. This according to him, should be a collective effort from all the stakeholders in the road sector. This will get these Trucks off the highway.

  • Abuja-Kaduna rail service receives 10 new coaches, others

    Abuja-Kaduna rail service receives 10 new coaches, others

    The Abuja-Kaduna trains service has received a boost with the arrival of 10 new coaches and two locomotives to be deployed by the Nigeria Railway Corporation ( NRC ) in January.

    A source in Abuja said that the new locomotives and coaches had been installed for test run ahead of their inauguration on January 15.

    Confirming the arrival of the coaches and locomotives on Thursday in Abuja, the Station Manager, Idu Train Station, Mr Victor Adamu, said that the new coaches and locomotives had been installed at Idu.

    Adamu said that NRC would deploy them immediately after their inauguration, adding that preparations were already on for the ceremony.

    According to him, the station expected the additional coaches and locomotives earlier, but could not receive them for logistic reasons.

    “I am happy to let you know that the new coaches and locomotives have arrived here in Idu and have been installed awaiting inauguration.

    “One locomotive and five coaches would be installed at Rigasa Station, while another one will be here in Idu so that our teaming passengers can enjoy the convenience.

    Read also: Abuja residents spend Christmas in petrol queues

    “As you know, the ability to cater for the number of passengers here every day has not been met before, but with the new coaches and locomotives we are good to go.

    “What this means is that in every two hours, passengers are sure of moving to and from Kaduna from both Idu and Rigasa stations,’’ he said.

    Adamu also disclosed that a total of 6,287 passengers travelled through the station and from Kaduna between December 21 and December  26.

    He said that 3,224 passengers travelled out of Abuja, while 3,063 passengers came to the city during the period, adding that highest number of 1,422 passengers was recorded on December  23.

    According to him, 1,351 passengers travelled on December  21, 1,325 passengers travelled on December 22, 751 passengers on December 24, 607 passengers on December  25 and 833 passengers on December  26.

    Adamu said that lowest number of passengers was recorded between Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 due to the weekend and the Christmas holiday, saying that the corporation usually operated only one trip on Sundays and public holidays.

    He assured that there would be excellent train services from 2018 with the arrival of the additional coaches.

  • Police parades 16 for robbery, kidnapping, car snatching

    Police parades 16 for robbery, kidnapping, car snatching

    The Police Thursday paraded 16 suspect for their involvement in kidnapping, armed robbery and car snatching.

    The police said the suspects belong to four different gangs adding that they terrorise innocent motorists on Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja – Minna – Bida, Birnin Gwari – Funtua, and Abuja – Lokoja highways.

    The police also said some of the suspects use military uniforms as bait to get their victims.

    The suspects who were paraded in Sabon Wuse,  Niger State include: “Abdulkareem Isah, Mohammed Mustapha, Yunusa Mohammed, Ahmadu Musa, Bashir Yero, Abdullahi Mohammed, Tanko Isah, Usman Adamu.

    Others are: “Yakubu Suleiman, Usman Ibrahim, Ahmed Suleiman, Isah Suleiman, Abdulmalik Sadiq, Usman Bawa, Sani Ahmed, and Alex Egor.

    Some of the suspects were also said to be responsible for the murder of a policeman.

    Items recovered from them include two AK47 riffles, one  SMG OFN Mode 12 gun, one locally-made revolver pistol, three pump action guns, two berretta pistol, one air rifle, 85 rounds of 7.62X39mm ammunition, 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 6 rounds of 380 Auto.

    Other items are: “Three live cartridges, five AK47 magazines, one fabricated master key, two Toyota Corolla car, one Toyota Muscle car, one technology phone,  two pairs of military camouflage uniform and a box of fake dollar currency.

    Speaking during the parade, the Force Spokesman CSP Jimoh Moshood said: “On 6th of November, 2017, after a sustained surveillance and raid of the criminal hideouts and kidnappers den by the men of Operation Absolute Sanity comprising the Special Tactical Squad (STS), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) raided identified kidnappers dens, camps, armed robbers and Car Snatchers in their camps, Black spots and Criminal hideouts in the forests located in the FCT, Niger and Kaduna States.

    “They successfully smashed four vicious and notorious gangs in the process arrested 16 suspects in the act of kidnapping and collection of ransom, car snatching and armed robbery.

    “All the suspects arrested confessed to the crime and admitted to the various roles they played in the commission of these capital offences.

    “They will be arraigned in Court on completion of investigation. Investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large.”

    As part of preparations for the festive period, Moshood also noted that the IG has directed Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zones and State commands across the country to beef up security in their area.

    “They are to ensure massive deployment of Armed Police Personnel, Patrol Teams and undercover operatives to black spots, flash points and other vulnerable criminal spots to nip in the bud all forms of crimes and criminality nationwide throughout this period to the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities and beyond.

    “They are also to make sure that detection of crimes that couldn’t be prevented is prompt to serve as effective deterrent to who-will-be criminal.”

  • Police vow to end crime siege on Abuja-Kaduna road

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has vowed to end the menace of kidnapping, robbery and other crimes on the Abuja/Kaduna Expressway.

    A statement by force spokesman Jimoh Moshood said Idris spoke after a sensitisation and mobilisation visit to communities, military and police personnel deployed in the 209km highway, at the weekend.

    The statement reads: “Concerned with cases of kidnappings, robberies and other crimes on the Abuja-Kaduna road, the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, in June, deployed an additional 600 officers of Special Intervention Forces, comprising Police Mobile Force (PMF), the Counter Terrorism Units, Federal Highway Patrol Teams, Safer Highway Patrols, Intelligent Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti-Kidnapping Units, in the road.

    “Their mandate is to root out these vicious kidnap-for-ransom and robbery gangs and render the highway safe.

    “The operations have been yielding positive results. Consequently, the IGP, on July 13, began an official visit to officers deployed in the road.

    “He also did an on-the-spot assessment of the security situation on the Abuja/Kaduna/Kano highways to ensure high alertness of officers there.

    “The IGP also addressed the communities and other stakeholders in the towns and villages along the road, on the need to be vigilant and cooperate with policemen.

    “At Suleja, the IGP visited the Emir of Suleja, Alhaji Muhammad Awwal Ibrahim, to commiserate with him on the flood disaster in his domain.”

  • ‎Kidnapped Sierra Leonean envoy regains freedom

    ‎Kidnapped Sierra Leonean envoy regains freedom

    The Deputy High Commissioner of Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Alfred William who was kidnapped along Abuja- Kaduna road  has regained his freedom.

    The envoy was kidnapped on the 1st of July while travelling to Kaduna State for a military passing out parade.

    The police said his release was made possible following credible intelligence and technical support which included intense police activities on both land and air patrol within the area.

    “This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the Force Spokesperson, Don Awunah.

    The statement noted that the envoy was released around 4pm on Tuesday and has been  reunited with the High Commission and his family.

    The statement read: “He was released at about 1600 of 5th July along Abuja – Kaduna road.

    The General is also said to  be in good good condition.

    The Acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris however assured   members of the diplomatic Corp and other nationals in Nigeria  of their safety and security.