In the wake of the recent hike in petrol prices, commuters are increasingly turning to the railway service between Abuja and Kaduna as a more affordable alternative. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced a new price, with prices ranging from N855 to N897 per liter at NNPCL outlets and N930 to N1,200 at independent marketers.
In response to the fuel price increase, transporters have raised road fares by approximately 40%. A survey conducted by City & Crime revealed that the transport fare from Abuja to Kaduna has skyrocketed to N6,000 from N3,500. However, the train services operating from Kubwa and Idu areas of Abuja to Kaduna remain relatively affordable at N3,600.
As a result, the railway service has seen a significant surge in patronage. A visit to the train station in Kubwa revealed that travelers are now booking all available seats a day in advance, a stark contrast to the previous scenario where trains often departed with empty seats.
Passengers like Musa Hamza, who attempted to secure a ticket for the 7 am trip from Abuja to Kaduna, were left disappointed and opted for the afternoon train instead. Hamza, who was seated with another passenger facing a similar experience, expressed frustration at the unavailability of tickets.
Efforts to speak with the station manager were unsuccessful, but a senior official, who preferred to remain anonymous, revealed that there are plans to introduce additional trains on the route to meet the high demand. This development underscores the growing reliance on the railway service as a viable alternative to road transport amidst rising fuel prices.
