- Opeifa Calls Out Saboteurs as Railway Infrastructure Faces Fresh Attacks
- Raises Concern Over Plateau, Bauchi Rail Vandalism Incident
- Warns of Safety Risks
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has raised alarm over rising cases of vandalism targeting railway infrastructure in parts of the country, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to public safety and national development.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Opeifa expressed concern over fresh incidents recorded in Plateau and Bauchi States, describing them as coordinated attacks on critical national assets.
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According to the NRC, one of the incidents occurred on May 21, 2026, when a truck allegedly loaded with stolen railway materials got stuck between Kuru and Science School in Plateau State, exposing ongoing illegal activity around railway assets.
In another case, the Corporation reported that railway sleepers were completely removed along the Zango axis in Bauchi State, between Kilometer 878 and 889, leaving damaged sections of track behind.
Opeifa warned that such acts could lead to serious consequences, including train derailment, loss of lives, disruption of services, and the destruction of multi-billion-naira investments in railway infrastructure.
He described the incidents as sabotage against national development and a direct threat to passengers, railway workers, and the economy at large.
The NRC boss noted that the growing wave of vandalism across the North-Central and North-East corridors reflects a dangerous pattern that requires urgent attention from security agencies, state governments, traditional rulers, and communities along railway routes.
He appealed to Nigerians to see railway infrastructure as a collective national asset, stressing that components such as tracks, sleepers, fasteners, and signalling materials are critical to safe and efficient transportation.
The Corporation also warned scrap dealers and individuals involved in the illegal purchase or movement of railway materials to desist immediately or face prosecution.
At the same time, the NRC said it is strengthening operations along key routes, even as it announced additional train services on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor ahead of the Sallah festive travel period to manage expected passenger surge.
