“Their cold feet on the matter subsequently led to the collapse of the negotiation,” he added.
Mr Nehikhare told journalists in Benin that one abducted passenger escaped from the kidnappers while the police had arrested one of the suspects.
The Ministry of Transportation also assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the kidnap victims.
The Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, says the federal government will soon commission the rolling stock assembly plant at Yemi Osinbajo Station, Kajola, Ogun.
The transport minister cited the second Niger bridge to justify the regime’s position that the South-East has benefited the most.
Services along the route were shut down following a terrorist attack on the train and its passengers on March 28.
The minister explained that the transportation sector is setting the stage for achieving the government’s commitment of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
Mr Sambo said the projects which are on-going, are being run through appropriation funds.
The minister also urged Nigerians to eschew violence during the upcoming general elections.
Mr Sambo who was on an inspection tour of facilities at the ports lamented the deplorable states of the roads.
