NRC Workers Lament As Hoodlums Vandalise, Steal Rail Tracks

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC) has lamented the activities of  hoodlums vandalizing  and steal rail tracks, saying it will from January next year commence skeletal train service from Lagos to Kano following the successful replacement of tracks vandalized by hoodlums in some parts of the country.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation Engr. Fidet Okhiria who made this known yesterday in Lagos at the end of year media briefing said that work is also ongoing on the Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri and Port-Harcourt to Aba, Umuahia and Enugu narrow gauge railway line.

He was quite optimistic that train operations will commence in the aforementioned railway corridor before the end of next year.

Okhiria disclosed that no fewer than 3,000 clips have so far been vandalized adding that the focus of management will, apart from arresting culprits, identify the buyers of the sleepers and possibly prosecute.

He noted that the management has also embarked on public enlightenment to educate residents of communities along railway lines on the need to protect government infrastructure like railways.

The NRC boss also said that plans are underway to procure 50 narrow gauge and 50 standard gauge locomotive engines as well as coaches.

According to him, 200 open roof wagons and 200 coaches will be assembled at the Kajola assembly plant.

He explained further that the idea of establishing the Kajola assembly plant is to ensure that 60 per cent of components used are locally assembled while the remaining 40 per cent are imported.