By Theodore Opara

NRC averts suspension of operations after attacks on facilities.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has condemned the rate at which NRC facilities are being attacked by criminal elements. 

He spoke on Monday in response to two latest separate cases of vandalisation, one on the Warri-Itakpe line and another at Oghaho Section in the Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State.
Opeifa’s reaction is contained in a statement released late Monday night, signed by Dr. Onyedikachi S. Onovo, a DPRO (E) EG.

Recalling the incident on the Warri Itakpe line, the statement noted that but for the quick response of the NRC management, the line would have suffered another suspension of operations. 

It stated that following a report from the community vigilante group at Agbarho Community, Ughelli North LGA of Delta State, the railway track and safety officers were quickly dispatched early Monday morning to ascertain the situation and ensure safe passage of the train.
Part of the statement read, “Arriving at the site, the men discovered that from KM 250 Agbarho – Okpara Section had been vandalized and the hold-down bolts and clips made away with by the hoodlums.

“The railway crew promptly replaced all that were vandalized and the track has been confirmed safe for the passage of trains.
“Because of that unfortunate incident, WITS 01 of today, 12th May 2025 experienced a 40-minute delay in departure.
“In another sad development, this time around, in the Eastern District of the Corporation, following a reported case of vandalization by PTO (HO) of two spans on bridge No.24 at KM284 (Oghaho section) Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, Eastern District, a team of railway policemen and engineering crew were despatched from Enugu to the site this morning Monday 12/5/25 on an assessment and security watch.
“On getting to the site, the men discovered that a whole length of (Bridge 24) heavy frames were cut into pieces by the criminals, using oxygen and escetelen. While the vandals had fled, the long spans bridge beams were met on ground and efforts are being made to recover them.
“According to the reports from officers in charge of the area, the location is largely inaccessible due to long history of insecurity and banditry which had made most communities along this rail corridor to relocate.”
The NRC MD commended the efforts of the security agencies in stopping what he called ‘economic sabotage’ and urged them to double their efforts as his administration remained ready to support them in dealing with the challenging task of securing railway facilities across the country.

He specifically thanked the Agbarho Community Vigilante Group for having an eye on the NRC track and called on other communities to emulate the group.