President Bola Tinubu has approved the acquisition of additional train coaches and surveillance equipment as part of efforts to improve railway services and address security threats, including banditry, kidnapping and vandalism.
The approval covers the procurement of more coaches to expand passenger and freight capacity, alongside security systems designed to monitor railway infrastructure and safeguard passengers.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Funso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Saturday while inspecting the ongoing Kano-Maradi railway project.
Adebiyi said the ministry was also training railway personnel to ensure they could operate and maintain the new coaches when they arrive.
He was accompanied during the inspection by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, and other government officials. The team also examined work on the casting of a bridge beam along the railway corridor.
Addressing the security challenges confronting the sector, Adebiyi said attacks on railway infrastructure had disrupted operations, endangered passengers and increased maintenance expenses.
He cited the Abuja-Kaduna railway corridor as an example of the security risks affecting train services in the country.
The permanent secretary said the government had authorised the acquisition of surveillance equipment to strengthen security across the national railway network.
“I’m glad to inform you that Mr President has given the go-ahead for us to embark on the acquisition of surveillance security equipment all across the country, and we are working around the clock to ensure this,” he said.
The planned procurement is expected to support efforts to protect railway facilities, improve passenger safety and strengthen the capacity of rail services to handle more passengers and freight.