A Look At All You Should Know About Abuja Rail Mass Transit

The minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike declared the Abuja light rail ready for commercial operations on Monday after conducting a final inspection of the project and expressed satisfaction with the facilities on the ground.

He also expressed delight in meeting up with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu upon resumption of office, to ensure that the Abuja Light Rail was ready before his one year in office anniversary.

Wike noted that the rail line will be fully open to commuters yearning for alternative means of transportation from the Central Business District, through communities along the Airport Road to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

A Look At All You Should Know About Abuja Rail Mass Transit

Below are a few things to know about the Abuja rail mass transit

The contract was awarded at $824 million, with 60 per cent to be funded with loans from the Exim Bank of China.

When fully completed, the Rail Mass Transit is to consist of six lots, covering a distance of approximately 285km.

Lot 1, which has been completed, has two lines and 12 stations connecting the Abuja city centre with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. It has stations at Abuja metro, stadium, Kukwaba 1, Kukwaba 11, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa and the airport.

Lot 2 (Not yet started) is to start from Gwagwa via Transportation Centre (metro station) to Nyanya/Karu.

Lot 4 (Also not started) is to start from Kuje to Karshi with the remaining legs of the transit-way line 2, while the Blue Line (Lot 3) is expected to pass through Idu to Kubwa, with stations in Idu, Gwagwa, Deidei, Kagini and Gbazango.

Lot 5 is expected to be from Kubwa via Bwari to Suleja, and Lot 6 from the airport via Kuje and Gwagwalada to Dobi.

The completed train system has 12 diesel multiple units each, with a capacity to accommodate a minimum of 700 passengers.

Each train was designed to run a minimum of 14 trips per day, and transport approximately 9,800 passengers per day.

The two lines, Lot 1A from Idu Station to Gbazango and Lot 3, from Metro Station to Airport, will operate two trains each simultaneously every day.

This will bring a total daily passenger count to 39,200 commuters and 980,000 commuters in 25 operational days in a month.”