Amidst kidnappings, attacks, and vandalization of railway infrastructures, the federal government has disclosed plans to establish Nigerian Railways and host community’s security committee to curb the incidence of armed attacks on railway infrastructure and passengers in the country.
The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, stated this during a to Tom Ikimi train station in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State recently attacked by gunmen on Saturday.
The Minister of State who sympathized with the victims of the unfortunate attack lamented that the intention of the perpetrators of the attack was to sabotage the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari towards the resuscitation of the rail transport service.
He stated that the government will take proactive measures to forestall train station attacks in the country and ensure the safety of passengers and facilities.
He said one of such steps would be the establishment of a collaborative initiative between the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the host communities to ensure that security is beefed up at the railway stations.
The Minister, who solicited the cooperation of the host communities in this regard, maintained that it was in the best interest of the host communities to ensure that Federal Government investments and personnel are protected.
He, however, allayed fears of plans to shut down the rail transport system, saying “the Nigerian Railway Corporation remains undeterred which is why we will continue to operate this rail service. We are not going to stop. All we need to do is to ensure the safety and security of our people and our passengers”.
He assured that security operatives were on the trail of the assailants, adding that the government will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of the heinous act to justice.
Also speaking, the Managing Director, of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr Fidet Okhiria said train services on the Warri-Itakpe corridor has not been halted, noting however that the train would not be making a stop at the Tom Ikimi Train Station in the mean time.
