By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As part of plans to resume the Abuja Mass Rail Transit operations, the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has visited the Operation Control Centre, OCC, in Idu, Abuja to review the project before lifting its suspension.
Bello who was accompanied by senior officials of the FCTA held a strategic meeting with officials of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC)at the Operation Control Center (OCC) of the rail system to review the Rail project.
FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola , after an extensive tour of the OCC said that the visit to the Center was to review the project and determine what actions to be taken within the shortest possible time, to restore the Abuja Mass Rail Transit system back into operation.
Adesola said, “The FCT Administration has made substantial investment in this project with the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria. You will recall that the project was test run shortly after it was commissioned and thereafter, the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a forced closure and suspension of the operations.”
” COVID-19 is over and we are desirous to resume operations. But there are certain issues that were not intended that had arisen, which will require attention. This is the purpose of coming here to look at the project in its entirety and to know actions to be taken within the shortest possible time, to restore the Abuja Mass Rail Transit system back into operation.”
Furthermore, he said, “A lot of high-powered decisions were reached, which we will give effect to as directed by the Minister. We will look forward to a quick resumption of the operation of the train system.”
He also disclosed that safety is not left out in preparation for the resumption of operations, as measures had been put in place to ensure the security of the entire length of the light rail system in addition to the security that will be provided on board by other government agencies.
“So, for the security of Abuja Rail Mass Transit, it is guaranteed. When we resume operations, everybody can travel in it safely” the Permanent Secretary added.
