Ministry test-runs Abuja-Kaduna rail

The Ministry of Transportation has begun the test-run of the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail ahead of its official commissioning. 
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Ameachi, who flagged-off the test run with a train ride from the Idu main station to Kubwa yesterday, said by the first week of July, President Muhammadu Buhari would commission the facility.

“Today is the first test-run we are doing on a completed standard gauge, normally. The signal, communications, rolling stocks and the stations are all done,” he said, adding that he was impressed with the work done. 
“I’m impressed with what we have archived and we are good to go. We are looking at the first week in July for commissioning by the president. For two weeks, we will test-run without passengers. After two weeks, we will test-run with passengers free of charge. That will take us till the end of June and by the first week of July, we believe the president should flag it off for commercial activities. After the flag-off, everyone pays. I have asked the managing director of the NRC to begin to prospect for passengers,” he said. 
The initial four caches to be used will carry about 600 passengers daily from Abuja to Kaduna and back. 
Speaking on the security concerns, the minister said any intending passenger without identity card won’t board.  
 “The identification doesn’t have to be a national identity card, if you have other forms of identification like driver’s license, international passport, etc, but we will not let you in if you don’t have any means of identification,” he said.