The Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) project is nearing completion, with 95% of the work finished and an expected inauguration in May, announced Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
This announcement came during a visit from Daniel Bertrand, the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighting the project’s role in enhancing Abuja’s public transport system.
Upon taking office, the FCT administration discovered the non-operational status of the Abuja Light Rail and decided to activate it to alleviate city congestion. President Bola Tinubu instructed swift action to ensure the light rail’s availability for residents within his first year of leadership.
The rail service will facilitate travel within the city, to the airport, and to other area councils, offering an alternative to personal vehicle use. The project, led by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is on the brink of completion.
Wike also mentioned ongoing discussions with private investors to revamp the FCT’s public transportation framework. The current lack of registered public transport operators poses a security risk, which the government aims to mitigate by registering all operators and constructing designated taxi and bus terminals for use by verified operators.
These terminals are slated for construction within the next month, pending approval from the Bureau of Public Procurement.
Furthermore, the government is engaging with law enforcement and cattle herders to address the issue of open grazing in the city.
Ambassador Bertrand’s visit focused on understanding the minister’s vision for mass public transportation, the progress of the Abuja Light Rail, and the city’s policy on open grazing.
He expressed his contentment with the FCT’s progress, especially its green spaces and reduced traffic congestion, and conveyed Belgium’s interest in collaborating on mutually beneficial projects.
