FG To Set Strategic Security Position Along Abuja-Kaduna Railway

The Federal Government has said it will set up a command centre to provide 24 hours security surveillance as part of its efforts to ensure security strategies for passengers, personnel and assets along the Abuja-Kaduna rail corridor. 

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, disclosed this at a meeting with members of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NURW) on Friday in Abuja.

Sambo said that a monitoring device would be installed in the train which would enable the train captain view the rail tracks up to 2 kilometres ahead.

Mu’azu Sambo said strategies have also been put in place to ensure adequate screening and identification of passengers on board the train.

This, he said, became necessary to prevent certain categories of passengers from gaining unhindered entry into the train.

"To buy a ticket, a passenger would be required to present his National Identification Number (NIN).

"After ticket purchase, before gaining entrance to the lounge, the passenger would be required to place his ticket on a validator which would display information about the passenger, including his picture.

"The passenger would only be allowed to board the train after necessary validation and authentication.

“There is going to be armed uniform and plain clothes security operatives onboard the train.

"Trained police personnel would also be stationed at all the stations along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.

"A response team would also be put in place, some of whom would be on motorbikes, some in land rovers." 

While expressing optimism that the current security challenges bedeviling the country would soon be surmounted, the Minister said the proposed security plan will be approved by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.  

“The proposal was earlier taken to the FEC, but the Council had asked for more clarification and clearance from NITDA.

"It will be represented having gotten the necessary clarifications and clearance”, he said.