Passengers - News Agency Of Nigeria

Ismail Abdulaziz
Aug, Tue, 2025

Passengers unhurt as Kaduna-Abuja train derails

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By Moses Kolo

A passenger train travelling from Kaduna to Abuja derailed on Thursday morning, leaving several cabins overturned along the busy corridor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident caused panic among the passengers, many of whom scrambled to safety.

Although details remained sketchy, there were no confirmed reports of casualties as of press time.

The Managing Director of NRC, Mr Kayode Opeifa, told NAN in a telephone interview that “yes, it has been confirmed. But there was no any casualty”.

Eyewitnesses said some coaches were badly affected, with the passengers sustaining minor injuries while trying to exit the overturned cabins.

The exact cause of the derailment was yet to be determined.

However, possible factors being considered include vandalism and scavengers’ activities along the rail line, or mechanical issues such as hot axles.

NAN reports that emergency responders were said to be assessing the situation.

Authorities were also expected to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the derailment.

NAN also reports that this was not the first challenge faced on the route.

The Kaduna-Abuja rail corridor had witnessed disruptions and security threats in the past, most notably the March 2022 terrorist attack that claimed several lives and led to the suspension of services.

Also, just last week, the Abuja-Kaduna train service experienced a technical scare linked to a hot axle.

The Kaduna-Abuja is one of Nigeria’s most critical rail lines, which serves thousands of passengers daily.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Yuletide: FRSC warns passengers against boarding unsafe vehicles

Ismail Abdulaziz
Dec, Sat, 2024

Defence/Security

Yuletide: FRSC warns passengers against boarding unsafe vehicles

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By Ibironke Ariyo

The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, has urged passengers to exercise caution when boarding vehicles, especially during the festive season, to minimise the risk of road crashes.

Mohammed gave the warning in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) Assistant Corps Marshal, (ACM), Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Saturday in Abuja.

The FRSC boss said that the warning had become necessary as the end of the year travels kept gathering expected momentum making the roads busier than they were in the previous months.

This, he said, had also become overly imperative in view of the recent crashes that occurred in Jebba, Kwara State on Dec. 26 and the other that happened on the Owo-Ikare route, before Ose bridge on Saturday.

The FRSC Corps Marshal, however, said that the advocacy and sensitisation campaigns had been stepped up, adding that commuters needed to be at alert.

‘Be mindful of drivers who show signs of recklessness and drunkenness, before embarking on or during their journeys.

“We observed that the recorded road crashes that occurred during the period above were due to the negligence or recklessness of drivers.

“Other factors were also the inability of passengers to checkmate them, call them to order or even report them to FRSC or other security agencies along their routes.

“To mitigate this risk of preventable crashes on the nation’s highways, commuters are advised to exercise caution when boarding vehicles.

“They should be aware of their surroundings and always ensure that their drivers are not under any influence before or during the trips,” he said.

Mohammed emphasised that the safety of all road users was of utmost importance, urging commuters to take responsibility for their safety.

“This effort is to support all the necessary interventions that the Corps has put in place,” he said.

The FRSC boss highlighted some of the roles of the passengers which included but not limited to checking the driver’s behaviour and attitude before boarding, assessing the vehicle’s condition, including tires, brakes, and light system.

The FRSC Corps Marshal believed that commuters could significantly reduce their risks of being involved in road crashes by taking these simple precautions above. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Yuletide: More than 340,000 passengers to enjoy free train rides – NRC

Philip Daniel Yatai
Dec, Fri, 2024

Metro

Yuletide: More than 340,000 passengers to enjoy free train rides – NRC

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By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said on Friday that free train rides were open to no fewer than 340,000 passengers across the country from Dec. 20, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025.

NRC acting Managing Director, Mr Ben Iloanuse, made this known while addressing newsmen after a train started the operation, carrying passengers from the Kubwa Railway Station to Kaduna.

He said that no fewer than 20,000 passengers would be conveyed daily from their stations to various destinations.

“So, we have an average of 20,000 passengers every day that will ride the train free of charge. Approximately, we are going to carry about 340,000 passengers over the period.

“As we commence today, we are expecting this to last until early January. So, today, on average, we have done 20,000 across some routes where the free train is happening.

“The routes are Abuja-Kaduna route, Lagos-Ibadan route, Port Harcourt- Abia route, Lagos Mass Transit route and Wari-Itakpe route.

“This morning, everything went seamlessly,” he said.

Iloanuse said that passengers with tickets boarded the trains and those without tickets were profiled.

He urged passengers to use the initiative of the Federal Government by making their plans early.

“Book online, the tickets are available. It makes it easy for us to allow you to board if you have a ticket. Also, importantly, please ensure you have a valid identification like NIN, international passport, valid driver’s licence.

“To ease the burden of the masses, the palliative is one of the ways the Federal Government is trying to do this, and this palliative will last till early January 2025.

“In terms of security, we have beefed up our security. Some of you at Kubwa Railway station, you will admit that you notice the presence of extra security on ground, “ he said.

According to him, the NRC has put an effective system in place to ensure that people cannot buy multiple tickets.

Passengers that spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended the Federal Government for the initiative.

Mrs Aina Omoworare, a civil servant, who appreciated President Bola Tinubu’s initiative in the transport sector, said she enjoyed the same palliative last year.

She said that she was also going to Kaduna free of charge by train this year, to return next year.

Mr Muhammed Idris, a trader, said he thought the initiative was not true, but was glad that the government was fulfilling the announcement. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

NCAA lists compensations for flight delay, cancellation, others

Philip Daniel Yatai
Oct, Fri, 2024

Aviation

NCAA lists compensations for flight delay, cancellation, others

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By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has affirmed that passengers are entitled to compensation for flight delay, cancellation, luggage delay, missing or loss by airlines.

Mr Michael Achimugu, the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection stated this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, passengers are entitled for first needs payment of N10,000 on domestic flights when passenger’s luggage is missing and 170 US Dollar on international flights while the luggage is being searched for.

“For domestic flights, the airline has one day to seven days to search for the missing luggage while on international flights, the airline has one day to 21 days to search for the luggage.

“A luggage is said to be lost if not found after seven days search on domestic flights and 21 days search international flights.

The process for compensation for missing g luggage commences after the said luggage is declared missing. Any fees paid for that luggage must also be refunded,” he said.

The director said the refunds for tickets on cancelled or delayed flights should be paid immediately, if payment was made in cash or within 14 days if it was by bank transfer or any means other than transfer.

According to him, refunds via means other than cash must be made within 14 days. However, some delay might be experienced from submission of required documents for the passenger

Contributing, the NCAA Director of Special Duties, Mr Horatius Egua, urged passengers to know their rights regarding the aviation sector.

He stated that challenges the authority encountered included, lack of awareness among passengers, limited enforcement of consumer rights, inadequate infrastructure and corruption.

“NCAA has emphasised increased passenger education and awareness, strengthening of regulatory agencies, improved airline customer service and enhanced infrastructure development

“By knowing your rights as a consumer, you can advocate for better treatment and services in Nigeria’s aviation sector,” he said.

On her part, Mrs Ifueko Abdulmalik, the Senior Special Adviser to the NCAA Acting Director General, Capt. Chris Najomo, said the airline ought to provide clear terms and conditions and also ensure timely departure and arrival.

According to her, Airline obligations are to provide adequate baggage handling, offer compensation for delays, cancellations, or overbooking and maintain safe and secure aircraft.

“Passengers have rights to know flight schedule, fare, and baggage allowance; right to compensation for flight delays; right to refund for unused tickets (within 7 days) and right to baggage protection.

“Common Issues from the passengers include, flight delays and cancellations, baggage loss, damage, or delay, overbooking and denied boarding, refund and compensation disputes, “ she said. (NAN)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/ Rotimi Ijikanmi