The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has dismissed recent online reports alleging that the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway has been vandalised and is unsafe for commuters.
In a statement released on Saturday in Lagos, the Managing Director of NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, through the Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, described the viral claims as misleading and based on outdated footage.
“The management of NRC has noted with concern a recent online publication alleging that vandals had damaged sections of the $1.5 billion Lagos-Ibadan rail corridor inaugurated in 2021. We wish to categorically state that the report is inaccurate,” the statement said.
Opeifa clarified that the vandalism shown in the video did not occur on the standard gauge line. Instead, it involved an entirely different route, the old narrow gauge railway line running through Oyo State. According to him, the incidents occurred between August 7 and August 27, 2024, along the Omi-Adio to Erunmu axis (between kilometre 170 and kilometre 240).
Documented records revealed that on two separate occasions in August, vandals carted away 250 E-clips at kilometre 218, as well as 16 short rails and one additional rail at kilometre 221. Another incident on September 9, 2024, led to the theft of 280 E-clips and two poles at kilometre 219.
Opeifa noted that immediate countermeasures were taken, including engaging the Erunmu community leadership, local vigilante groups, and the police. NRC also launched sensitisation campaigns at Agodi Gate to discourage scrap dealers from purchasing stolen railway materials.
“These efforts led to the arrest of several suspects who have been handed over to the Railway Police Command in Lagos for interrogation and prosecution,” he explained. “Since these interventions, there has been no fresh case of vandalism on that axis.”
The NRC boss urged the public to disregard reports linking the vandalism to the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge corridor and warned against further acts of sabotage, stating that offenders would face strict legal action.
