Nearly three decades have passed since the Abuja Rail Mass Transit, popularly known as the Abuja Light Rail, was first conceived under the administration of the late General Sani Abacha. Designed to position Abuja as Nigeria’s first city with a rapid transit rail network, the project has faced decades of delays and limited execution.
Today, only one phase out of six is operational, despite enormous investment and political promises over the years. Designed to cover a total distance of 290 kilometres, the Abuja Light Rail was divided into six phases or Lots. Based on the design, Lot 1, which connects the Central Business District to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, is currently operational even though many residents have serious reservations. Lot 3 has reportedly been completed but remains inactive.
Lot 2 is designed to connect Gwagwa to Nyanya/Karu via the metro station, and Lot 4 will extend from Kuje to Karshi, covering the remaining sections of transitway Line 2. Lot 5 is to link Kubwa through Bwari to Suleja, and Lot 6 will connect the airport to Dobi via Kuje and Gwagwalada.
If completed, this wonderful initiative, will not only showcase Abuja as a modern city with robust and interconnected transport infrastructure, but will also serve the transportation needs of the millions of low and middle income earners, whose productivity and commitment to work is extremely low.
Though initial progress was recorded in 2007 when contracts were awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for Lots 1 and 3, the outcome only became visible a decade later when the 42.5 km Lot 1, with three out of the 12 stations to connect Abuja City Centre with the Nnamdi Azikiwe was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2018.
That initial momentum was, however, short-lived when the train service was suspended in 2020. The FCT Administration last year said the trial operation between September 2018 and March 2020 had been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which later exposed the light rail infrastructure to massive vandalism.
More recently, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, oversaw the rehabilitation of the system, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently re-launched the service in May 2024, offering free rides to residents for seven months.
While the service has since become operational and accessible to residents of the FCT and nearby communities, many however, lament that the impact appears minimal as the light rail only runs from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport to the Abuja metro station in the Central Business District, providing easy transportation for an exclusive set of privileged Nigerians with the means to fly in and out of the city. This defeats the core aim of a mass transit system, which should provide affordable, accessible, and efficient transport for the general population, especially low- and middle-income earners who live on the outskirts but work in the city.
Therefore, it has become necessary to advise the FCT Administration to prioritise the completion of the remaining Lots to see that it connects all of Abuja’s area councils to the city, so that residents can enjoy its full benefits
We, therefore, call on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to revisit the blueprint of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit and expedite the completion of the remaining phases of the project.
A city-wide rail network has the potential to significantly reduce traffic congestion, cut down commuting costs for civil servants, and alleviate the daily struggles of thousands of workers. It would also provide a safer transportation system and help reduce gas emissions by offering a cleaner alternative to the many private and commercial vehicles that clog Abuja’s roads.
The current administration has already expressed its commitment to decongesting Abuja city through new roads and expansions. But road constructions alone will not solve the capital’s transport challenges. A fully functional light rail system is critical to ensuring that Abuja becomes not just a modern capital in appearance, but also in infrastructure and services.
It is not in doubts that while the affluent and middle class can build and rent homes within the city centre, a majority of public and civil servants, as well as those who provide basic services, cannot afford to live in the city centre. These people are forced to contend with high transportation costs as they commute to work. A reliable light rail system will encourage more people to live outside the city, where housing is more affordable. It will also serve as a model for other cities across Nigeria looking to modernise transportation.
Until the other Lots are developed and functional, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit cannot be said to have served its purpose. The city of Abuja, on the other hand, cannot afford another lost decade on this project. Now is the time to act.
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