By Hamza Suleiman
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has described the removal of some railway coaches from Maiduguri to other states by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as “suspicious and unfair”.
Zulum made this known on Tuesday in Maiduguri when he visited the Maiduguri Railway Terminus.
According to him, his government will follow all legal procedures to ensure that infrastructures meant for the state are not moved to other parts of the country.
Zulum said that the state government was not informed about the decision to move the coaches until residents intercepted them as they were being moved.
“About five months ago, some of the rail infrastructure was conveyed to other states of the federation without the knowledge of the security operatives and Borno Government.
“This time around the community raised alarm when they saw the movement of these rolling stocks from Maiduguri to other parts of the country.
“When we contacted the management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, they said the rolling stocks would be moved to Jos for a complete overhaul and be dispatched elsewhere.”
Zulum stressed that the decision to relocate the rail infrastructures was “crudely pursued” by the NRC.
“On this note, I want to announce that nobody will move out any of the rail infrastructures here in Borno without recourse to the rule of law.
“I urge you to remain calm and not to take the law into your hands.
“I want to, once again, note that these infrastructures will not be moved anywhere, insha’Allah, Borno is one of the states in Nigeria and we have equal rights,” Zulum said.
The governor noted that with the removal of railway management from the exclusive list, Borno would partner NRC to maximize benefits of rail transportation.
It would be recalled that hundreds of Maiduguri residents stormed the Maiduguri Railway Terminus on Sunday to protest the removal of train coaches from Maiduguri to Jos for repairs by the NRC.(NAN)
