The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says over 150,000 rail clips were stolen by suspected vandals along railway tracks across the country between 2022 and 2023.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lagos on Thursday, Fidet Okhiria, managing director of the NRC, said despite arresting suspects engaging in vandalism, the corporation still records cases occasionally.
Okhiria said more than 50,000 clips were vandalised between Lagos–Ibadan and another 50,000 on Warri-Itakpe standard gauge tracks.
He said another 50,000 rail clips were stolen from Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge tracks within the same period.
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He added that NRC has commenced a sensitisation programme in communities where the rail clips were vandalised.
He said the sensitisation would help in creating awareness of the impacts of vandalism on the railway system in the country.
“The only issue we have now is vandalism of the tracks, which is a big problem. When we replace the tracks, they will come back and vandalise the track again,” NAN quoted Okhiria as saying.
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“Just before Christmas, the hoodlums vandalised over 200 clips between Mushin -Oshodi area and we had to replace them three days after the vandalism.
“We are looking for a way to protect the clips, we will also continue to discuss it at the management meeting where we will have to engage a special person to guide our position.”
The managing director added that railway track vandalism can be stopped if the trains are constantly occupied.
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