Minister Decries Rail Components Theft

The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has decried the frequent stealing of rail component by thieves along the Port-Harcourt-Enugu rail line.

The Honorable Minister of Transportation made this assertion after he was briefed by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade on the level of work done so far on the Lot I of the rehabilitation of the Eastern line rail services linking Port-Harcourt  to Makurdi.

Engr. Sijuwade had also lamented the inability of the contractor handling the project, ESER contracting & industry company incorporated to access the main quarry for the project located at Ishiagu near Enugu in Ebonyi state.

In a Statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye and made available to The Tide in Lagos stated that the denial of access was seriously affecting the progress of work on the project and implored the Honorable Minister to assist in resolving the problem.

Engr. Sijuwade further noted that a list of stone (a major Component of rail track laying) had already been crushed at the quarry by the Contractor but had been prevented from accessing the site by some people laying claims to the quarry.

The NRC Managing Director explained further that replacing stolen (Pandrol) clips, another component of track-laying was also affecting the smooth execution of the project.

Earlier, the transport minister, Senator Idris Umar said, regardless of these challenges, the 2013 completion date for the project remain realizsable.

He promised to liaise with the Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Martin Elechi towards resolving the issues surrounding the Ishiagu quarry.

Umar, also directed the NRC boss to look into deploying the railway police to specific areas of vandals in order not to jeopardise the completion of the project.

The transportation minister also used the opportunity to inspects other components imported for track laying at the sites located at Kilometre 63 in Aba after which he proceeded to Gombe, Bauchi, Jos, Kafanchan and Lafia for further inspection.