NRC Raises Alarm Over Vandalism of Signalling Equipment on Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has expressed concern over the vandalism of critical signalling infrastructure along the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge railway, particularly between Agege and Agbado stations.

In a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, the NRC disclosed that unknown individuals had tampered with essential signalling components. The sabotage, discovered during a routine inspection, involved the removal of signal machine cap protectors and the cutting of connection cables on Switch Point Machine No. 2.

Unyimadu described the act as a deliberate attempt to sabotage national infrastructure, warning that such actions could jeopardize the safety of both passengers and railway staff.

Despite the damage, the Corporation assured the public that train services along the Lagos-Ibadan route have not been disrupted and operations continue as scheduled.

Security agencies have been alerted and are currently investigating the incident with the aim of identifying and prosecuting those responsible.

“The Corporation strongly condemns these acts of sabotage against national infrastructure,” the statement read. “Such actions not only threaten the smooth operation of our train services but also pose significant safety risks. Nevertheless, train movement on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor remains uninterrupted.”

The NRC also reiterated its commitment to providing safe and reliable railway services, calling on residents and communities near railway lines to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around railway infrastructure.

This development comes weeks after the Nigeria Safety Investigation Bureau raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of NRC assets in another report related to the Abuja-Kaduna corridor. The NRC has long battled vandalism across various parts of its network, targeting everything from rail tracks to signalling equipment.