President Muhammed Buhari has approved July 26 as flag–off date for the Abuja–Kaduna rail line for commercial operations.
Making this announcement in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi said that the rail line would come into full commercial operations after the Presidential flag-off next week Tuesday.
The demand for National Identity Card at the train stations, according to the Minister, is in tandem with over 100 countries around the world including Nigeria, which have enacted laws making identity cards compulsory in their countries; the card must be shown on demand by authorised personnel under specified circumstances.
Ameachi said alternative proof of identity, such as a driving licence ad international passport might be acceptable at the train station including Abuja-Kaduna rail station.
He said his Ministry with parley with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is in charge of the issuance to have a stand at the stations so it can capture any passenger that does not have the national identity card.
“Anybody that wants to board the train must identify him or herself with national I.D card or any other standard identification card so that we know who is boarding and where he lives,” he said.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
