- Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) faced over 150,000 rail clip losses due to persistent vandalism along major tracks in 2022-2023
- NRC’s Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, expressed frustration, highlighted ongoing sensitization efforts, and discussed measures, including specialized personnel, to address vandalism
Mr. Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), revealed that the corporation experienced the loss of more than 150,000 rail clips due to persistent vandalism along railway tracks across the country in 2022 and 2023. The instances of vandalism were particularly notable along the Lagos–Ibadan, Warri–Itakpe, and Abuja–Kaduna standard gauge tracks.
Speaking at an end-of-the-year media briefing in Lagos, Okhiria highlighted the challenges posed by track vandalism and the impact it has on the growth of rail networking in the country. He mentioned that the corporation had been actively engaging in sensitization efforts within communities affected by vandalism to make residents aware of the negative implications of such acts.
Okhiria expressed frustration over the recurrence of track vandalism, noting that even after track replacements, vandals would return to commit further acts of destruction. He shared a recent incident where over 200 clips were vandalized between the Mushin and Oshodi areas just before Christmas, necessitating prompt replacement.
To address the issue, the NRC is exploring ways to protect the clips and is considering engaging specialized personnel to safeguard vulnerable sections of the railway tracks. The ongoing challenge of track vandalism remains a significant concern for the NRC as it works to expand and enhance the country’s rail infrastructure.