Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa has again flayed the continuous vandalism of railway assets across the country.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dr Opeifa to have said railway assets are national assets and that act of vandalism endanger passengers safety.
Opeifa said this following the arrest of an NRC employee identified as one 38-year-old Gift Eseeli for alleged cable theft at Rafa Yard along the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor.
The NRC confirmed Eseeli was apprehended by operatives of Man O’ war, Railway Command and that he has been handed over to the police.
Preliminary findings indicated that several lengths of 50mm armoured signal cable had been removed from the track side installations before vigilant officers, led by one Mr Williams Agiake intercepted the suspect.
The stolen items were recovered intact and handed over to the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), which has commenced a full investigation.
“Railway assets are national assets. Act of vandalism endanger passengers safety and sabotaged the Renewed Hope infrastructure drive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The NRC will prosecute any individual or group including workers found culpable of vandalism without exceptions,” the NRC boss said.