The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has recommended a charge of manslaughter for anyone caught vandalizing Nigeria railway facilities.

Amaechi made the submission on Friday when he appeared on the ministerial media briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the presidential villa, Abuja.

He said applying stringent laws will curb the habit, which he said, can cause train derailment and subsequent death of unsuspecting passengers.

Amaechi lamented that railway clips are frequently stolen causing the country huge amounts of money to replace.

The minister revealed that Nigeria and China have signed a contract to manufacture train coaches locally in the country following an initial five year period of just the local assembling of the components.

Similarly, he said an agreement had been signed for the Chinese to build a rail component manufacturing factory in Kajola, Ogun State, due to being commissioned in 2021 and as well, a University in Daura, Katsina State to help localize railway technology.

Amaechi also said 300 Nigerians have been sponsored to understudy rail technology in China and will be absorbed into the Transportation ministry on completion of their studies.

Details later…