The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has vowed to take decisive measures against illegal mining activities that are causing significant damage to railway tracks.
Mr. Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the NRC, issued this strong warning during a media briefing on Wednesday in Jebba, following an inspection tour of rail tracks in Mokwa, Niger State.
Opeifa condemned the miners’ actions, labeling them as acts of economic sabotage that threaten the country’s infrastructure.
According to him, the miners seem unaware of the serious consequences their activities have on the railway assets managed by the NRC. “They are undermining the very infrastructure entrusted to the Nigeria Railway Corporation,” he stated.
Highlighting the extent of the damage, the NRC chief pointed to the affected rail tracks stretching from Jebba to Mokwa. He explained that the miners’ digging into the soil beneath the tracks weakens the foundations, putting the rail lines at risk. Such destructive behavior, he emphasized, is detrimental to the national economy and cannot be tolerated.
In response to these challenges, Mr. Opeifa urged the Niger State Government to deploy adequate security forces to protect these vital national resources.
He stressed the need for prompt and firm government intervention to prevent further degradation of the railway system and safeguard the country’s economic assets.