The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has condemned the persistent vandalism of railway tracks and equipment across the country.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria while speaking with journalists in Lagos Southwest Nigeria, said some bad elements were sabotaging the federal government’s efforts to revive the railway sector.
Mr Okhiria stated that the trend of vandalism had extended to the newly constructed standard gauge rail tracks.
He mentioned the affected areas as the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna and Warri-Itakpe standard gauge train services, adding that the trend is becoming serious and alarming.
According to him, “some people are trying to spoil what all of us have tried to put in place by going to the extent of vandalising, removing clips and all sorts of the negative things to sabotage the system.
“I know with your support and cooperation, people should be properly educated and have understanding that sabotaging the rail and track of rail infrastructure is not in the best interest of the country.
“It is good to maintain what we have and keep it working so that those of us that are alive will use it now will leave it behind.
“The government are on the right path listening to us and they are taking it passionately, doing everything possible to ensure that rail serves everybody” he averred.
The NRC boss called on Nigerians to prevail in those sabotaging the railway by removing tracks, slippers and clips on both the standard and narrow gauge.
Reacting to the measures taken to prevent attack reoccurrence, he said the Nigerian Railway Corporation is sensitising the communities around the railway corridors.
The Managing Director further reiterated the Corporation’s commitment of the lingering vandalism by equipping the security agents to deepen patrol of the corridors as well as deployment of technology like sensors and satellite systems to forestall vandalism.
Dominica Nwabufo
Nigerian Railway condemns persistent tracks vandalism