The Eastern Railway District Manager of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mohammed Ibrahim, has warned citizens against vandalizing rail tracks in the South-East.
Ibrahim, who gave the warning while addressing newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday said the warning became necessary given the rising cases of vandalism of Railway facilities in Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu States.
The district manager, however, appealed to host communities to protect the equipment belonging to the corporation within their communities as their own property.
He identified the hot spots to include, Umugo in Abia, Ishiagu in Ebonyi, Ubahu and Udumachara in Enugu State.
According to him, the most worrisome and heartbreaking one is the unfortunate reports of vandalism of the newly constructed Aba to Port-Harcourt Railway track, particularly at Umugo in Abia.
He stated that on July 3, 200 pieces of nuts and clips were reported to have been removed by these vandals while on July 15, too, 90 pieces of nuts and clips were equally reported to have been removed.
The Eastern Railway boss added that all these incidents took place within Umugo Section of the track.
“This wickedness is capable of causing accident of unimaginable proportion if not checked.
“I wonder why any human being with his or her right senses will think about frustrating this project that has brought so much relief to the good people of the Eastern District.”
While thanking the Abia State Government for her continued support, he asked for more support and equally asked other states in the zone to also assist the Corporation in putting an end to the wicked act.
This, he said, they did by empowering security agencies to be on the lookout for trucks or any vehicle carrying railway materials.
Speaking further on the hot spots, Ibrahim noted that virtually on daily basis, railway track materials were being carted away by hoodlums at Ubahu and Ehamufu sections, as well as Udumachara, all in Enugu State.
He also stressed that Ishiagu in Ebonyi State was witnessing high rate of vandalism of railway track materials.
“I also had a report of sets of missing fasteners along the railway line from DK19+750-DK20+300 around Elelenwon, Rivers State.
“To ensure the operation of the railway line, the contractor has promptly completed the supplementary installation of the fasteners.
“Additionally, on July 25, the contractor caught a thief stealing fasteners along the line and handed him over to the Police at Port-Harcourt Station, on the same day,” he said.
He, however, called on all traditional rulers and Presidents-General of the communities mentioned to remember that a functional railway system would boost development in the zone.