https://punchng.com/stakeholders-propose-nrc-privatisation-to-curb-train-derailments/
Train derailments are not unusual in railways but given our relatively low traffic volumes, three derailments in three weeks is cause for serious concern.
The attribution to vandalism by the NRC may however be precipitant as the NSIB is known to be investigating the incidents and may have yet to report its findings.
Notwithstanding, there appear gaps in the current approach to securing the right of way and this is worrisome. Rudimentary manual security systems alone though useful are never adequate.
Recall that following the AK9 terrorist attack on the Abuja-Kaduna railway in March 2022, an electronic surveillance and motion detection system was canvassed but has not been implemented and may have even been shelved. Furthermore, the Chief of Defence Staff’s committee which helped to secure hostage releases, recommended community liaison along the right of way to provide intelligence and early warning on intrusions. This also is not known to have been implemented.
Indeed, the original scope of work for the construction of the standard gauge track included fencing of the right of way all through which also was not done. This leaves the track vulnerable to trespassers of even the innocent kind like children, animals or vagrants for which the operator may have occupier’s liability in tort.
These measures combined should then be overlaid with regular track inspections to nip emergent track defects in the bud.
The effect of frequent derailments may be to discourage users from patronising the railway and detract from its optimal utility. A private operator would take a more proactive and holistic approach to securing the right of way as the survival of his business may depend on it. This is why it is imperative that we create the enablement for private operators running our railways and wake up to the fact that the NRC as operator just does not cut it. It is for this and other reasons that we must unbundle the NRC and get serious private operators with superior capacity providing the satisfactory rail services that continue to elude us.