Business owners at the Rigasa Train Station in Igabi Local Government Area of Kadum State have expressed happiness over the resumption of train services in the community.
Most of the traders said life had not been easy for them for months due to the closure of the train station because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Arewa Trust visited the station and observed that some business owners: store owners, shoe makers, food vendors, car park guards, tricyclists and commercial vehicle operators, have all opened for business.
Children hawking groundnuts and water were also seen moving around with their wares within the car park area.
A traditional barber (wanzami), Usman Ya’u, who operates at the station, said he was happy to see business activities picking up at the station.
Ya’u said, “Honesty, I’m happy that the train has resumed operations, because this is where we do our businesses too, and it’s only when the train operates that we do business.”
Haruna Mohammed, a guard at the station’s motor park, said the station was deserted for months due to the pandemic which in turn made life a bit difficult for people like him.
Hohammed said, “We were out of business for months because the station was completely deserted. We had a tough time taking care of our families, but we are hoping that life will return to normal now that the train has resumed operations.”
Similarly, the Women Leader of the mini market in the station, Maman Suleiman, said she hoped the train’s resumption had come to stay.
Maman Suleiman said, “We hope it has come to stay because we are very happy to see businesses returning gradually. We believe the closure was done in good faith to protect us from the virus, but we are also happy to return to business.”
Meanwhile, a traveller, Mohammed Khaleel, urged the Federal Government to look into the ticket fees.
Khaleel said, “We are so happy that the train has resumed operations, but I will also want the government to look into the ticket fees, because as it is now, the prices have increased.”
