The minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has appealed for approval to Procure technology necessary to monitor and secure rail tracks around the country.
The Minister said this during an inspection of the scene of the terrorists attack on a train on the Abuja-Kaduna Rail corridor where 8 persons died. He was accompanied by the Minister of state for tansport, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of police affairs, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, MD Railway Engr. Fidet Okhiria and the Chairman NRC Engr.Ibrahim Alhassan.
Heading towards the scene of monday’s attack on the train, about 600 m from the attacked train, one is met by the sight of the rescue train which got stuck at the spot where the track was bombed making it impossible for them to rescue the victims on time.o
Walking further down the bullet ridden train is spotted, it is obvious that the area was well chosen , a terrain hedged off by high ridges making escape unthinkable.
The Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi said he was devastated by the incident which according to him would have been prevented by early approval of funds to purchase the necessary security technology.
“We have done all we need to do in the ministry of Transport, we have sent it forward for approval , we have not gotten approval.we need to purchase these items, we need to install them no matter how much they cost,you can’t equate it to the 8 lives that are lost.The equipment is N3 billion.”
Outside giving a number for the dead which he said stood at 8 with 25 hospitalized he said details of missing or kidnapped persons was not yet confirmed as they were some staff of NRC and the cleaning company who are not on the manifest. He said those on the manifest are being contacted to know if they are safe.
Responding to a question on perimeter fencing which was recently raised at the national assembly, the minister insisted that it would not solve the problem.
“Perimeter fencing is on ,they are demolishing it, perimeter fencing cannot stop criminals it’s just for cows.what we need is technology that lets you know that there is foreign activity on the track,that way you can secure the locomotive and coaches, you can secure lives. I have warned earlier that we need to get those equipment because human lives is involved. What can of due process is that , we need to get the equipment to enable us see from Lagos to Abuja what is going on from Kaduna to Abuja what is going on if now we will continue to lose lives.we need to get all that if not one-day more persons will die. The damage here is not more than 3 Billion so if we had gotten that we would have saved this 3 Billion and we would have saved lives”.
The Chairman NRC , Engr Ibrahim Alhassan who sent condolences to the bereaved families said the answer is not in giving up but in looking at how to beef up security.
“We are going to on our part take some measures
to do our own scheduling, things like that and I believe the government and security agencies will come to our assistance with more help and assistance and I believe we are going to over come this,
It is not going to deter us, honestly we are not going to give up because of this.”
He called on Nigerians to join hands to make the job of security easy for the good of everyone.
“The only thing we want is the cooperation of everybody especially people living along the corridor, when they see any suspicious activity, because there is no way that pple riding 50-70 motorcycles without anybody seeing them or hearing the noise.
I believe people should help us to help all of us”.
Blood stains were seen all over the tracks ,coaches and some doors as well as personal effects of passengers ranging from shoes and clothes to an APC wrapper obviously belonging to a passenger returning from the convention in Abuja.
Meanwhile soon after the Minister passed Gidan on his way to inspect the scene, bandits attacked the railway station at Gidan though they were repelled by security Operatives.
NewsAnnexOnline 