Stop Purchasing Stolen Rail Equipment, NRC MD Warns Metal Companies

The federal government has warned Metal Smelting Companies and foundries to desist from purchasing stolen railway sleepers and components from vandals or face prosecution as economic saboteurs.

According to the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s  managing director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, firms purchasing stolen railway components from vandals will be considered collaborators.

Opeifa, who made this known in reaction to a viral video showing vandals invading a section of the $1.5 billion Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge railway line, noted that the incident referred to in the video occurred on August 7 and 27 last year along the narrow-gauge railway corridor at Omi-Adio and Erunmu in Oyo State.

The NRC boss stated further that those incidents triggered immediate intervention by the corporation through Community engagement involving Village Heads of Erunmo, the Vigilante group and the Police.

While appreciating the role played by the Media and Judiciary in highlighting the activities of the Vandals and prompt prosecution of culprits, he called for proper verification of facts before publishing on various platforms.