By Onyeanya Ebere
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, has warned against the persistent vandalism of railway infrastructure across the country, insisting that the materials being stolen are not scrap but essential national assets crucial to Nigeria’s unity and development.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy programme on Saturday, Opeifa highlighted the value of railway systems beyond transportation, stressing their role in fostering national integration and economic progress.
“We don’t have scraps in the Nigerian railway; we have national assets,” he stated, lamenting the theft of critical components such as rail tracks and steel, which are often misclassified and sold as scrap.
The NRC boss recalled a similar trend abroad but pointed out the uniqueness of Nigeria’s challenge.
“I was at a conference in South Africa, I think in the month of April, and I was shocked that people are even stealing electric cables that power their trains,” he said. “But what do they steal here? They steal the steel and call it scrap.”
Opeifa explained that these railway lines connect Nigeria’s diverse cultures, religions and languages, reinforcing national identity.
“These are the assets that link our people… from Lagos to Osogbo, Ilorin, Mokua, Niger, Nupe, Hausa, Igbo, Fufide, Calabari, Edo, Hebrew, Tiv to Maiduguri speaking Kanuri,” he said.
According to him, any act of vandalism is an attack on the very structure that unites Nigerians.
“Anybody vandalising them is like going to the heart of our people, the integration that binds us together,” he said.
Opeifa also appealed to communities along railway corridors to take ownership and protect the rail infrastructure, stressing that the presence of railways often stimulates the growth of surrounding areas into major cities.
“Every part the railway passes through becomes a major city, so it is in the interest of the locals too to make sure the railway survives,” he said.
While he did not provide details on specific security strategies in place to curb vandalism, he hinted at ongoing measures and urged for continued support from the public.
“We just pray that we continue to do them and want to appeal to the communities who are supporting us to continue to support us. The area we need them more is in the area of vandalism,” he added.
