NRC Tweaks Abuja-Kaduna Train Times Ahead of Saturday’s FCT Council Elections

Travelers planning to move between the nation’s capital and Kaduna this weekend will need to set their alarms a bit earlier. The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has officially adjusted its schedule for Saturday, February 21, 2026, to ensure that the “State of Harmony” during the FCT Area Council elections extends to the rail corridors.

In a statement released on Thursday, the NRC confirmed that the outbound train from Abuja to Kaduna will now depart the Idu Station at 7:30 a.m. sharp a slight shift intended to help passengers reach their destinations before the peak of election-day movement restrictions. Interestingly, the return trip from Kaduna to Abuja is sticking to its guns, with the departure from Rigasa remaining at 2:30 p.m.

The adjustment comes as Abuja braces for one of its most consequential local elections, seen by many as a “litmus test” for the 2027 general polls. With INEC deploying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) across all six area councils, security is expected to be tight, and the early train departure is designed to prevent commuters from getting caught in the inevitable vehicular “lockdown” that typically accompanies Nigerian elections.

“We wish to inform our esteemed passengers that this is a one-day-only adjustment,” the NRC statement read. “We advise all travelers to arrive early for boarding and security checks. Remember, no NIN, no boarding.”

While the rest of the FCT will be focused on ballot boxes and polling units, the NRC is ensuring that essential transport remains fluid even if it means a slightly earlier start to the day for those heading north.