The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has raised concerns over the increasing vandalism of railway infrastructure, particularly the theft of iron materials from rail tracks.
Speaking on the recent arrest of a suspected vandal known as "Lucky," caught cutting a rail bridge along the Kaduna-Kafanchan corridor, Opeifa revealed that the suspect had been under surveillance following intelligence reports linking him to multiple acts of vandalism. He added that police are tracking his accomplices.
Opeifa warned against the illegal smelting and sale of railway materials, emphasizing that rail components are not scrap and can only be disposed of by the NRC management under its legal framework.
He cited multiple recent incidents, including the arrest of a police officer caught with track materials in Minna, and others apprehended for rail theft in Bauchi, Port Harcourt, and Ebonyi State. Several vehicles used in these operations have been seized by authorities.
The NRC boss directed the Police Railway Command and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to expedite the prosecution of arrested vandals, stressing that railway sabotage endangers public safety and could cause derailments.
Opeifa also highlighted ongoing efforts to expand freight services and reactivate abandoned railway routes, including the Kano-Nguru, Zaria-Kaura Namoda, and Idogo lines, to enhance cargo movement across the country. He assured that soon, cargo trains would operate seamlessly beyond Ibadan, reaching Ilorin, Minna, and Kano from Lagos.
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