The Buhari regime has shelled out N718.19 million in contracts to private security firms for the protection of the 45-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna railway and stations.

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.

Mr Bello said the Buhari-led regime had been considering its best options with regard to surveilling Nigeria’s rail system. This includes concessioning it in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The minister explained that a total sum of N718,193,250 was approved to engage two security outfits to provide security to the entire 45 kilometers of trail track and 20 stations across the country.

“Council approved Messers Al-Ahli Security Guards Limited and Messers Seaguard Security and Protective Company Limited. They are going to provide security to their entire 45 kilometers of track including 12 stations,” Mr Bello said. “These security services are meant to protect the key infrastructure on the rail tracks, the signalling and communication equipment as well as the electrical system.”

Mr Bello pointed out that Al-Ahli security guard Limited is going to secure 27.4 kilometers of the track, covering eight stations at the cost of N407,214,000 over a two year period, while Seaguard securities are protective Company Limited is going to secure 18 kilometers of the rail tracks including four railway stations and that is at a cost of N310,979,250.

The decision followed the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line which led to the suspension of operations. In March, terrorists derailed a passenger train conveying nearly 1000 travellers with explosives planted along the tracks. Many victims were killed in the attack while hundreds, some of whom are still in captivity were kidnapped.

The incident came after the Kaduna International Airport was invaded by bandits who killed aviation workers and left many others wounded.