As Transport Minister Speaks On Sensitivity Of Incident

For the Abuja Kaduna Rail Services to resume, Surveillance Cameras and other security gadgets and precautions must be in place for the safety of passenger, the federal government has said.

Considering the ugly incident of kidnap of passengers along the route by terrorists, the federal government also said it will be insensitive to resume the Abuja-Kaduna train service as all abducted passengers are yet to be freed.

The Hon. Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, made this disclosure while briefing state house correspondents after this week’s federal executive council (FEC) meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja.

The Minister said the resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna train service, which was suspended following an attack which took place in March, would translate to insensitivity as relatives of some kidnapped passengers remain in captivity-necessitating the need to have surveillance facilities to monitor the tracks 247 prior to resumption.

The minister said the government is therefore looking at the best options in terms of surveillance, including concessioning under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

When asked to give a timeframe on resumption of theAbuja/Kaduna train service, Muazu said: “If I give a timeline, I’ll be lying to you. It will be insensitive to restart the service if some families weep day and night over their family members still in the bush”.

The minister said the federal government is mindful of the cost involved but should be able to report definite progress in about four weeks’ time.

The Minister also disclosed that FEC approved a contract for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) worth about N1.49 billion for the repair of cranes.

Other outcomes from the FEC meeting as revealed by Sadiya Umar Farouq, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, is the approval of over N42 billion for construction and reconstruction of roads  in five northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe and Bauchi.

In her words “For Borno, we have a 22.5-kilometre road that is to be reconstructed. This road is Ngom-Koshebe and Ngom-Zabarmari-Gongulong-Kajari road with the contract sum of N13,553,902,668.95,” she said.

“The second contract is on the reconstruction of 53 Kilometer Gombe-Abba-Dukurfi Road in Gombe Road and Bauchi state in the contract sum of N11,697,355,449.61.

“The other road is the 54-kilometre Mutayi-Ngalda road in Yobe state with the contract sum of N12,199,182,845.70.

“The fourth one is the one for Adamawa State, Garkida road. It has a contract sum of N6,202,214,413.29 inclusive of 7.5 VAT. Garkida road in Adamawa state is located at the fringes of the Sambisa forest.”

She said the roads are being taken into consideration and selected in conjunction with the state governments and other critical stakeholders.

“These roads are expected to stimulate our economic activities, enhance security and facilitate the freer movement of goods and people in these affected states within the zone,” the minister added.

“The ministry also is in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and Housing and the co-funding of various roads in the Northeast region. As you’re aware, the North East Development Commission (NEDC) was established in 2017.

To address issues of rebuilding, reconstructing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating the people of the north-east who have been affected by the insurgency, we are also in partnership and collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in the area of engaging reputable local consultants for the design and supervision of the major works in line with the executive order five for promoting local content in science, engineering and technology, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, said.