Fresh security fears as vandals attack Kaduna rail infrastructure after court jails offenders 

Nigeria’s rail infrastructure came under renewed scrutiny on Friday as the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) reported a fresh act of sabotage on a 33Kv powerline feeding the Rigasa Station in Kaduna—barely 48 hours after a Federal High Court jailed two men for vandalising the Warri–Itakpe rail corridor.

The simultaneous developments have deepened concerns about a coordinated pattern of attacks on critical national assets, heightening pressure on security agencies already battling widespread infrastructure sabotage.

According to a statement issued by NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, vandals struck the newly restored powerline in the early hours of Friday, carting away essential components and plunging the busy station and its adjoining railway community back into darkness.

The power facility had only been repaired 60 days ago after suffering two years of blackout from a previous attack.

The NRC described the latest incident as “a deeply troubling regression,” raising fears of an emboldened network of vandals targeting the nation’s rail system.

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The renewed vandalism came just as the Federal High Court in Ikoyi delivered a landmark judgment sentencing two offenders—Mudansuru Mutari (27) and Blorie Kokori (39)—to two years imprisonment for tampering with the Warri–Itakpe track.

Justice A. I. Kala, who handed down the sentence, warned that attacks on rail infrastructure constitute “a serious threat to national safety,” stressing that Nigeria’s rail renaissance cannot thrive amid persistent sabotage.

Both convicts had been arrested around Kilometer 208 before Abraka in Delta State and were prosecuted under the Miscellaneous Offences Act for vandalism and economic sabotage.

NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said the twin incidents demonstrated the scale of the threat confronting the nation’s rail system.

“What we are facing is not petty theft—it is an assault on Nigeria’s economic arteries,” he said, calling for intensified security operations, particularly around high-risk rail corridors in Kaduna, Delta, Lagos and other flashpoints.

Opeifa lamented the rising frequency of attacks, warning that persistent sabotage undermines passenger safety, disrupts operations and imposes heavy repair costs on the government.

He reiterated the NRC’s commitment to sustaining services despite the setbacks while urging communities to support security efforts and report suspicious activity.

Security experts warn that the pattern of sabotage reflects a broader threat to the country’s transportation infrastructure, especially at a time when the government is pushing to expand rail services under the Renewed Hope Rail Agenda.

The repeated attacks on power and track components also raise questions about the capacity of state security outfits to provide adequate surveillance along long, unmanned rail corridors.

As investigations into the Rigasa attack intensify, the NRC assured passengers and residents that emergency response teams are working to restore power while long-term security measures are being strengthened.

Despite these challenges, the Corporation insists that its resolve to protect railway assets and ensure reliable transport services remains unwavering.

Fresh security fears as vandals attack Kaduna rail infrastructure after court jails offenders

NRC launches major revival of dormant narrow-gauge rail lines to reconnect communities

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has initiated an ambitious nationwide programme to revive long-abandoned narrow-gauge rail lines, aiming to reconnect neglected communities and stimulate local economies. Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed the plan on The Exchange Podcast hosted by Femi Soneye.

Opeifa explained that the corporation intends to optimise the more than 4,500 km of rail tracks built over the past century by bringing dormant corridors back into operation. These include the Idogo line in Ogun West, the Kaduna–Zaria line, and sections of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail line that have been inactive for years.

According to him, the reactivation will be driven by a new “rail in with the states” initiative, which allows state governments to access and utilise these idle assets. Through this model, states can rehabilitate rail tracks and operate customised passenger or freight services without the huge financial burden of constructing new lines.

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Opeifa noted that the temporary removal of tracks during the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line unintentionally disconnected communities such as Makurdi, Lafia, and Maiduguri — a gap that exposed the infrastructure to vandalism. Restoring rail services, he said, will not only revive commerce but also enhance security by re-establishing an official presence along the routes.

The NRC is also refurbishing old coaches and locomotives, which Opeifa stressed are “not too old, just not used,” and can provide many more years of reliable service once repaired.

Analysts describe the initiative as a pragmatic national development strategy, combining the long-term vision of a new standard-gauge rail network with the practical revitalisation of historic rail assets. The revival promises renewed connectivity and economic opportunity for smaller towns and rural communities that once relied on these lines as vital commercial arteries.

The success of the programme will hinge on strong collaboration between the NRC and state governments, as well as adequate funding for rehabilitation. With a new legal framework supporting increased state participation, political will appears to be in place.

As Nigeria works toward a modern rail future, the restoration of these lines signals a broader narrative of national renewal — one built on the solid foundation of its historic rail network.

NRC launches major revival of dormant narrow-gauge rail lines to reconnect communities

Nigerian Railway, SWDC plan Osogbo–Erunmu, Idogo lines reopening to boost food supply, trade

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to revive the Osogbo–Dagbolu–Erunmu and Idogo railway corridors as part of a major push to strengthen regional trade, food distribution and agricultural productivity across the Southwest.

In a statement, the NRC said the project would be executed in partnership with the Southwest Development Commission (SWDC).

According to the commission, the two rail lines—long abandoned—will be dedicated primarily to freight services, enabling the movement of agricultural produce from rural communities to Lagos markets while returning consumer goods to the hinterland. SWDC Managing Director, Charles Diji Akinola, described the corridors as “critical arteries for regional commerce and food security.”

Akinola said the commission’s immediate plan is to operate some of the old, unserved routes under a profit-sharing arrangement, with subsidy options to support smallholder farmers and stimulate agricultural output.

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He noted that the medium-term agenda includes securing operational and track access licences for additional routes, attracting private-sector investors, constructing warehouses along the rail corridors, and developing new spurs to link all Southwest states to the national rail grid.

“Our push for rail revival is inspired by the extensive groundwork earlier done by the DAWN Commission on infrastructure and transport development across the Southwest,” Akinola said. “Regional rail connectivity remains central to the economic revitalisation of the zone.”

The Osogbo–Dagbolu–Erunmu line and the Idogo corridor, he added, are priority routes as the commission intensifies efforts to improve food movement and guarantee food security.

NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, reaffirmed the corporation’s readiness to collaborate with SWDC, federal agencies and private investors under initiatives such as the Track Access Programme and Railing With the States, which allow sub-national entities to utilise national rail corridors.

Opeifa said NRC directors have already been directed to work with SWDC’s technical team to develop the Memorandum of Understanding required to bring the lines back to life.

“The revival of these strategic routes aligns with our broader commitment to expand freight rail services and support regional development,” he added.

Nigerian Railway, SWDC plan Osogbo–Erunmu, Idogo lines reopening to boost food supply, trade