*The Federal Ministry of Transportation, in Abuja, says the government procured the patrol vehicles to support the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Police working along the route to effectively boost security in the part of Nigeria

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has disclosed that it handed over six patrol vehicles with scanners to Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in order to boost security on Abuja-Kaduna rail line.

Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, who stated this development while handing over the vehicles Thursday, January 6, 2022, said the vehicles equipped with security gadgets would aid movements along the major railway route, especially in times of emergency.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister for Transportation 

The Permanent Secretary noted: “The Ministry decided to procure these vehicles to support NRC and the Police working on that route to be able to effectively police the axis.

“It will further support the corporation on the security architecture of Idu -Abuja rail track.

“The security apparatus we have for most of the rail track have a number of components.”

The Ministry also said: “We have the local people who are patrolling. We also have the NSCDC personnel, the Police corps of NRC.

“We have locations where stations are and where we need the security men to be able to move from one location to the other.

Dr. Ajani further noted “this is in addition to the fact that we are also looking at surveillance apparatus and fibre optic equipment. So, for movement of security personnel, we need these vehicles.”

In case of emergency calls, the security personnel should be able to move from one point to the other.

This is part of their responsibilities to keep the place safe, said the Permament Secretary.

Ajani as well noted that the vehicles passed through proper procurement process before being handed to the Corporation.

She further explained the sensors being planned to be installed on the route are still in the procurement stage in the Ministry.

Ajani stated: “We have gotten approval from NITDA. So, when the procurement process is concluded, they will be installed.”

Alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan, Chairman of NRC, while taking delivery of he patrol vehicles, said that the development was a wake-up call on other institutions of government to support the Corporation.

The NRC Chairman said: “At NRC, we cannot do it alone. We need the support of other institutions of government.

“Our operations are more or less social security. Without this, most people will not be able to travel.

“When we had that unfortunate incident and we could not run for two days, many people could not travel; they preferred to stay where they were until the trains were back.

“So, the ministry has done very well and we really appreciate it. It is an indication that we are not alone and that we are being supported.”

The vehicles and scanners, he assured Nigerian consumers, will be deployed as backup to whatever the Corporation needs to do.

Alhaji Alhassan said: “We cannot have security people sitting down in one place. They need to be mobile.

“We will put the vehicles in the various security stations so that we can do necessary monitoring and patrol.

“The scanners will also provide additional security so that we will ensure that our passengers are safe.”

Mr. Fidet Okhiria, Managing Director of NRC, also stated that the vehicles would go a long way in assisting the Corporation in its security arrangement in the railway industry.

Okhiria commended the Ministry on the gesture, as he noted that it “it shows that we are rising up to the challenges we are facing in terms of security,” report said.