ABUJA-KADUNA RAIL ATTACK: Federal Govt To Install Digital Security Architecture
The Federal Government is to install Digital Security System on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line following the recent bomb blast that destroyed a section of the tracks by unknownn persons.
The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, said this yesterday when he embarked on assessment of the rail corridor which was destroyed at a section between Rijana and Dutse on Wednesday, 20th October, 2021.
Elucidating the measures to be adopted following the attacks, the Minister said: “What this attack has done to us is that it would fasten the process; the procurement process of the Digital Security System that we would want to put in place. It had gone to cabinet two weeks ago and it was returned. So, we’ll re-present it to cabinet to ensure that we get approval, then we can install the Digital Security Network”.
According to him, the security system when established along the rail tracks will enable security structure identify and respond when there is an impact on the rail. This system, he said has sensors that signals when a person crosses or interferes in any form with the rail facilities. He added that before the installation of the system, the government will deploy security personnel along the corridor to forestall future reoccurrences.
Speaking further, Amaechi said “We want to assure the public that beyond the physical presence of police, deployment of military along these tracks, I just told the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Engr. Fidet Okhiria, to get us a rail bus that would be on patrol regularly on the tracks, even before the train takes off. That will be the measure we’d put in place until the Digital Security System is installded.”
As regards the readiness of the line to commence operations, the Minister said that the Abuja-Kaduna train service will resume operations on Saturday, 23rd October, 2021, as the NRC has fixed the affected portion.
Amaechi further observed that the positive attribute of the rail misfortune is that it brought to fore the technical savvy, capability and readiness of indigenous engineers to fix and contribute their quota whenever the need arises, as the repairs were done by Nigerian engineers and completed in record time.
The Honourable Minister was accompanied on the inspection tour by the Deputy Director, Rail Transport Services, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Pheobe Nwandu, Government Inspector of Railway, Engr. Abdulrahman Yusuf, Director, Civil Engineering/New line, NRC, Engr. Anthony Onyokoko and District Engineer, NRC, Zainab Kasim.