Residents along the Gwagwa-Airport railway corridor in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Federal Government and the FCT Administration to provide an update on the delayed rail project, expressing concern over the slow pace of work on critical infrastructure.
The residents said the incomplete components, particularly power supply installations and facilities required to make railway stations operational, were raising questions about when the corridor would be ready for use.
Abubakar Rilwanu, a resident of Gwagwa, said the delays had become a source of frustration for communities along the route, which forms part of the railway connection between Abuja’s Central Business District and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The Gwagwa-Airport corridor contains three of the 12 railway stations along the route.
“It beats our imagination that a critical segment involving railway stations would take this long to complete,” Rilwanu said.
He urged the relevant authorities to clarify the project’s current status and provide a realistic timeline for completing the outstanding work.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Incomplete Facilities
According to Rilwanu, the delay in completing power supply infrastructure and other essential station facilities has slowed progress towards making the railway corridor fully operational.
He called on the government to engage the construction company and other stakeholders to resolve the outstanding issues and ensure that work advances towards completion.
Residents believe the project could improve connectivity within the capital, ease transportation challenges and provide another option for commuters travelling towards the airport.
However, they say uncertainty surrounding the completion date has left communities waiting for a clearer explanation from the authorities.
Rail Stations Could Reduce Government’s Diesel Costs
Rilwanu also argued that connecting the railway stations to the national electricity grid could reduce or eliminate their dependence on diesel-powered generators.
He said completing the power infrastructure would not only help bring the stations closer to operational readiness but could also reduce the government’s recurring expenditure on fuel.
The concerns come amid ongoing infrastructure development across Abuja and other parts of the country, with residents questioning why a major transportation project in the nation’s capital is taking so long to progress.
Another resident, Ishaya Madaki, expressed disappointment over the pace of work, saying the delay sent an unfavourable signal about infrastructure delivery.
“For a government that is spending heavily on infrastructure development, I do not know why this major project is taking so long to progress,” Madaki said.
Construction Company Yet to Respond
Efforts to obtain a response from the construction company were unsuccessful, as calls to its designated public enquiries line were neither answered nor returned at the time the report was filed.
The residents have urged the Federal Government and the FCT Administration to provide a clear update, address the outstanding construction issues and ensure that the project progresses towards completion.
For communities along the corridor, the immediate concern is not only when the railway will become operational, but also whether the delays can be resolved without further setbacks.
A clear timetable and regular progress updates, residents believe, would help restore confidence and provide greater certainty about the future of the Abuja rail project.
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