In its bid to find a lasting solution to rail and by extension road insecurity, the Ministry of Transportation has disclosed plans to employ present-day technology and rapid response by relevant security agencies.
According to the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, the decision was reached after studying several submissions and recommendations presented to him on how to tackle the menace.
He made this known while on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of the United Nations, H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, at the United Nations Headquarters complex in New York, USA.
The minister is a lead speaker on financing Nigeria’s Power and Transport infrastructure at the Nigerian International Economic Partnership forum at St. Regis Hotel, New York, USA, slated September 22, 2022, where President Mohammadu Buhari is the Keynote speaker.
The DSG hinted that she had families who had employees who lost their lives in the Ill-fated train attack and some are still in captivity.
Why commiserating with her, Sambo explained that he studied several recommendations and proposals and settled with the one which will give a long term solution that will cover both rail and road security, and after testing in the coming weeks, it will be a template for the entire country.
He revealed that he and his team are working tirelessly with the relevant agencies to ensure the release of those in captivity.
The Minister and Deputy Secretary General agreed that in addition to technology and rapid response by security agencies, there is need to involve communities and the traditional rulers along the rail and road routes.
They noted that the security of a nation is its community and when communal involvement is employed, coupled with technology and rapid response, the insecurity can be nipped in the bud to a large extent.
The DSG commended the infrastructural development of the Buhari led administration, but noted that people will not see progress when they are leaving in insecurity.
She however expressed optimism that the minister’s Initiative, when deployed, will go a long way in dealing with the challenge, adding that Nigerians look forward to more strides and results from the ministry under his watch.
Responding, Sambo said he had hit the ground running from day one and part of his courtesy visit to her is to solicit assistance and opportunities for the Ministry of Transportation.
