NRC: Abuja-Kaduna rail operations will resume when safety is guaranteed

The federal government says it is putting concrete security measures in place to safeguard train passengers and railway infrastructure across the country.

Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), said barracks and safety gear are being provided for security operatives.

He said a committee set up to look into the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna rail operations is yet to submit its report.

Okhiria added that operations on the route will resume “when we think it’s safe to start”.

“A team was set up, not just for Abuja-Kaduna but for rail security and we are meeting to ensure concrete measures to safeguard train passengers railway infrastructure across the country,” he said.

“We have broken into committees and while that is going on, those things we need to put in place to help us run safe and secure trains are also being put in place within the NRC.

“We are providing some shields like barracks where the police can feel safe and comfortable to work.

“We are also going to provide some sort of mobility and safety wears for the security people.

“The team is made up of office of the chief of defense staff,  chief of army staff, the IG, DSS and the military intelligence, we have all in that committee.

“And those things we can do before the committee submit their report, we are putting in place, so that we can start operation when we think it’s safe to start.”

TheCable had reported that the remaining 23 passengers abducted after an attack on a Kaduna-bound train have regained their freedom.

The passengers were among the 61 abducted on March 28.

Commenting, Okhiria commended the federal government and Nigerians on the release of the abductees.

“We congratulate Nigerians, we can say that the government has done marvellously well,” he added.

“If we recall, when the president met with the relatives of the affected people, he made a promise that what is important is for the people to be released without harm.

“We thank God the incident is a thing of the past. They have been released and are presently with the security personnel for the necessary checks and procedures.”

On when train services will resume, Okhiria said: “It is in the hands of the committee to decide.

“Regarding operations, however, I will say we are ready with the locomotives and we are ready with the tracks.”