The Transportation Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) has urged security agencies to safeguard railway assets nationwide against persistent vandalism.

Chairman of TCAN, Tola Adenubi, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

Mr Adenubi said the unchecked vandalism of railway assets was undermining the progress achieved under the Federal Government’s Railway Modernisation projects.

He commended officers of the Nigerian Police Force, Railway Command, for promptly arresting two vandals, aged 22 and 25, in Kaduna.

The suspects, from Layi Turaki, Rigasa, were apprehended for vandalising and selling railway electrical and signalling equipment near Rigasa Train Station.

Mr Adenubi called for the prosecution of buyers of stolen railway materials, including metal smelting companies and foundries, for promoting vandalism in Nigeria.

He said that as long as there remained a market for stolen iron, the menace of vandalism would persist nationwide.

Mr Adenubi urged security agencies to investigate how metal smelting firms source their raw materials and scrutinise their activities thoroughly.

He lamented that continued vandalism of railway facilities was reversing the progress recorded in rail infrastructure development across the country.

He linked the recent Abuja–Kaduna train accident, between Kubwa and Asham stations, partly to vandalism of key railway installations.

Mr Adenubi stressed the need for increased daily patrols of railway infrastructure to prevent further vandalism and protect ongoing railway development efforts.

He also commended the managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, for promptly addressing reported vandalism cases nationwide.

Mr Adenubi, however, called for more collaboration among security agencies, stakeholders, and citizens to end the persistent attacks on the nation’s railway assets.

(NAN)