JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has urged communities along the Abuja-Kuduna rail corridor to play an active role in the safety of trains and railway facilities in their corridors as attacks and vandalism continue to increase along the track.
The call follows recent activities by hooligans who now attack trains and often destroy their components, a development which the NRC has strongly condemned as suspected vandals and criminal elements now enjoy perpetuating destructive attacks along the corridor.
The NRC revealed that the latest incident occurred around kilometer 177 along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor, where some unknown persons reportedly gathered along the tracks and started pelting stones at a moving train, damaging the windshield of the main locomotive.
The company notes with deep concern that similar attacks have also occurred in other locations over the past two weeks, including Gidan Busa/Sarki Gora village, Kakau District, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, among others, a development that is putting rail operations, passengers and operational staff at serious risk.
According to the management of the NRC, similar incidents have so far been recorded in more than six locations along the corridor, thus worsening the already difficult and stressful operating conditions under which the Corporation continues to provide essential transportation services to Nigerians.
The NRC said these persistent attacks not only endanger lives and damage critical rail infrastructure, but also constitute acts of economic sabotage capable of disrupting national transportation and undermining the federal government’s extensive investments in the rail sector.
It however noted that “Despite the unfortunate development, railway operations continued with necessary safety precautions and rigorous operational vigilance by railway staff who continued to demonstrate commitment and professionalism in ensuring that passengers reached their destinations safely.”
