In a social media post on Monday morning, a Twitter user, via the handle, @seunogungbade_, alleged that the Lagos-Ibadan train was delayed without any prior notice to the passengers.
The passenger said the officials informed passengers aboard that the trip was delayed due to fuel scarcity.
“Very intersting start to my Monday. Got to the train station at Yaba for what was supposed to be an easy trip to Ibadan; only to be informed that there is no fuel for the train and there is no hope for fuel in the coming hours. Yeehaw!” @seunogungbade_ tweeted
Meanwhile, Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of NRC, told Peoples Gazette that Lagos-Ibadan train, which was supposed to depart around 8:30 a.m. on Monday, was rescheduled to 12:00 p.m. due to fuel scarcity.
Mr Okhiria said the corporation is struggling to pay debts to suppliers, making it difficult for the corporation to get adequate fuel for its operation.
“Yes, and we told them that there was no fuel,” says Mr Okhiria. “There is a fuel issue now, and the price of fuel has gone up. We have not increased our price.”
He added, “We announced to them that we could not go by 8:30 but by 12. We are struggling to pay for fuel because the price has gone up. We are owing our suppliers.”
Two weeks ago, the railway corporation informed commuters plying Lagos-Ibadan routes that train services will be reduced to two trips daily.
“The Lagos-Ibadan train service is running, but we have reduced the number of trips on that route because of the diesel problem. We reduced the number of trips we are running because of the hike in diesel price,” Mr Okhiria said in an interview with Punch newspaper.
