The Federal Government has approved the procurement of surveillance and security equipment, as well as additional railway coaches, to strengthen railway security and expand passenger and freight services across the country.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, disclosed this on Saturday during an inspection of the Kano–Daura–Katsina sections of the ongoing Kano–Maradi Railway Project.
He said President Bola Tinubu had approved the acquisition of the equipment to tackle security threats, including banditry, kidnapping and vandalism, which have continued to pose challenges to railway operations.
Adebiyi, who was accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola Ade-John, said the government was working to strengthen security across the nation’s railway corridors.
He expressed concern over security challenges affecting railway operations, citing an incident involving two trains on the Kaduna–Abuja corridor, which he attributed to vandalism and banditry.
“I’m glad to inform you that Mr President has given the go-ahead for us to embark on the acquisition of surveillance security equipment all across the country, and we are working round the clock to ensure this,” he said.
The permanent secretary added that the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) had recruited a surveillance team to conduct regular patrols along railway routes.
He said the measures were intended to improve the monitoring and protection of railway infrastructure and passengers nationwide.
On efforts to expand railway capacity, Adebiyi disclosed that Tinubu had also approved a contract for the acquisition of additional train coaches.
He explained that the ministry was making arrangements to train NRC personnel in the operation and maintenance of the new coaches, adding that railway workers would participate in their assembly to strengthen local technical expertise.
According to him, the initiative would enable Nigerian railway personnel to undertake essential maintenance after the coaches had been deployed and handed over to the corporation.
“Mr President has approved the contract for the acquisition of more coaches, and we are going the extra mile also to get Nigerian Railway Corporation staff trained in the operation and maintenance of those new coaches,” he said.
The inspection of the Kano–Maradi Railway Project was aimed at assessing the level of implementation, identifying outstanding technical and logistical challenges, and evaluating preparations for its scheduled commissioning in December 2026.
During the visit, Adebiyi and other officials participated in a beam-launching exercise for a railway bridge under construction at Chainage 191 along the Kano–Katsina–Maradi railway corridor.
Speaking during the inspection, Ade-John commended the progress recorded on the project, describing it as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to revitalising transportation infrastructure under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said construction was progressing across the various project corridors and disclosed that a railway tracking system had received approval in principle as part of broader efforts to improve security.
The presidential aide also revealed that the project’s workforce had increased and working hours had been extended to accelerate construction and meet the December 2026 commissioning deadline.
He expressed optimism that the railway project would improve the movement of people and goods, stimulate economic activities and deliver long-term benefits to communities along the corridor.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation reiterated its commitment to improving railway security, expanding passenger and freight capacity, developing local technical expertise and ensuring the timely completion of critical railway infrastructure.
