Following the rampant cases of vandalization and increasing cases of theft of materials used in the ongoing construction of Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge rail modernisation project by hoodlums, the federal government has established a Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Command of National Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC).
Last year, the federal government condemned the stealing of clips, bolts and knots on Lagos-Ibadan rail track by vandals. Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation said over 5,000 clips and 10,000 bolts as well as knots stolen by vandals had been replaced along the track which according to him is an additional cost in the rail project modernisation efforts.
The deployment of corps is to safeguard the critical national assets and infrastructure of the corporation and that of Chinese Civil Engineering & Construction Corporation; the contractors handling rail modernisation projects in the country according to a statement issued and signed Yakub Mahmood, deputy director, public relations of the NRC.
Niyi Alli, director of operations representing Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the corporation while speaking during the inauguration of the command in Lagos, said officials of the corps should consult with the management of the corporation whenever there is security threat.
Niyi Alli assured management of NSCDC of the commitment of NRC management towards provision of necessary logistics such as office and residential accommodation that enable the railway command of NSCDC to take off hitch free and perform maximally towards provision of security.
Speaking during the inauguration of the command in Lagos recently, Abdulahi Gana, commandant-general represented by K.S Aminu, the deputy commandant-general, assured management of the corporation of readiness to tackle security challenges and threats on NRC facilities.
He also seemed for cooperation of other sister security agencies and staff of the corporation in the gathering of intelligence towards total eradication of vandalism and other criminal elements within the railway corridor.
Meanwhile, work across the 10 stations along the 157 km long Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line has been progressing slowly and this has on many occasions worried the minister of transportation raising doubts if the project will be completed and delivered next April as earlier planned by the federal government.
Last week, Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, had said the outbreak of coronavirus in China might delay the completion of the rail project. The Chinese government he said had prevented some of the workers from returning to Nigeria because of the disease.
The virus, which has become a global health challenge, is threatening the April deadline of the project handled by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Jerry Oche, Lagos railway district manager, told BusinessDay that the federal government would not sacrifice the health of its citizens because of any project.
Oche said if the Chinese were going to come back to Nigeria and continue the project, they must be certified free of the virus, adding that, though the federal government is passionate about the project, the health of Nigerians remains a priority.
“The simple question we should ask ourselves is what do we want? Do we want to be infected with the coronavirus because we want to meet the time for the completion of the project?” he asked.
