The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to metal smelting companies and foundries, urging them to stop purchasing stolen railway sleepers and other components from vandals or risk being prosecuted as economic saboteurs.
Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, sounded the warning while reacting to a viral video depicting vandals tampering with parts of the $1.5 billion Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge railway line.
Opeifa clarified that the events shown in the video did not occur on the standard-gauge corridor but rather took place on August 7 and 27 of the previous year, along the narrow-gauge railway line at Omi-Adio and Erunmu in Oyo State.
He said companies found purchasing vandalized rail infrastructure would be regarded as collaborators in the crime and treated accordingly.
The NRC chief noted that those specific incidents prompted swift intervention from the corporation, which engaged local stakeholders including the Village Heads of Erunmu, the Vigilante group, and the Police to tackle the situation.
While commending the efforts of the media and judiciary in exposing vandalism and ensuring the timely prosecution of offenders, Opeifa urged stakeholders to verify facts thoroughly before sharing information across public platforms.
