The Nigerian Senate on Thursday inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to investigate contracts and the execution of railway projects across the country, amid rising concerns over the deteriorating state of operations on key routes.
The initiative followed a point of order raised by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) under Order 42, who drew attention to what he described as the “tragic situation” affecting the Kano–Kaduna rail line.
According to Ningi, the frequency of train services on the route has fallen drastically to one trip per day, while cargo travel time has nearly doubled, increasing from about one hour and 30 minutes to almost three hours.
Supporting the concerns, Senator Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi Central) attributed the reduced service partly to extensive damage to rail infrastructure caused by bandit attacks.
In response, Senate President Godswill Akpabio challenged the notion that funding was the primary constraint. He argued that the key issue was the age and quality of existing rail infrastructure, noting that some sections were substandard.
Akpabio emphasized that the situation called for a comprehensive legislative investigation into how railway contracts were awarded and executed.
The probe will examine project design, funding, implementation standards, and maintenance structures to ensure improved efficiency and safety on Nigeria’s rail network.
