News Investigators/ Some residents of Keffi Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa have appealed to the Federal Government to set up a train service linking Abuja to Keffi.
They said that this would offer citizens, an alternative means of transportation.
They made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Keffi.
NAN reports that the since the commencement of the Abuja-Kaduna train service, some Nigerians plying ty route had embraced the alternative transport means, thereby reducing the pressure on vehicular movement on that stretch.
Due to the proximity of Nasarawa to Abuja and with some civil servants preferring to live in cheaper houses in border communities bordering Nasarawa to Abuja.
Some of the respondents also believed it was 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 transport means for citizens plying that axis, especially workers who had 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 suffered harrowing traffic gridlocks daily, in 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 people are enduring every day on this Abuja-Keffi highway.
“People will go to work on time and return on time. There won’t be issues of any 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 in Keffi also clamoured for the Abuja-Keffi train service, noting that it was a more secure transport 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 we often hear. This is aside the constant accidents on the road.
“But with train, there is more security. Although it’s 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 the government will listen and take action,” she said.
Mr Nwankwo Benedict in his opinion, said he wanted the train service, as he needed to also experience the success stories commuters of the Abuja-Kaduna train route had been experiencing.
He added that the construction of a railway line from Abuja to Keffi and in future to Lafia and Makurdi, would facilitate easy transportation of goods, especially farm produce, hence the call on government to seriously consider the idea.
“A lot of people have been saying it is convenient, comfortable and reliable. I want the 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 Nigerians, as air transport is too expensive.
“Train transportation according to the comments we have heard, will go a long way for this section 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 thereabouts and the impact on the transportation of people, goods and services, through that route will be massive.
“For me, it is going to be a win-win situation for the government and the people,” he added.
NAN