Bauchi State Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, confronted individuals on Saturday who were removing railway sleepers along the rail corridors in the Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa local government areas of the state.

The Governor expressed serious concern over this development and urged relevant authorities, including security agencies, to take immediate action to prevent this economic sabotage.

A visibly angry Bala Mohammed voiced his concerns after observing contractors removing the sleepers while travelling to Alkaleri Local Government Area for a condolence visit.

He promptly directed his Chief of Staff to submit a formal complaint to the Federal Ministry of Transport, seeking clarification and raising an alarm that national assets in the state are being dismantled without any consultation with the State Government.

According to him, “Although security personnel accompanying the workers claimed they were acting on Federal directives, such explanations were insufficient to justify removing critical infrastructure supporting transportation and agricultural produce distribution.”

He warned that dismantling the rail line could signal neglect of vital regions, especially as the infrastructure plays a key role in easing transportation challenges and supporting the movement of goods.

The Governor further emphasised the need for transparency and collaboration between federal and state authorities, stressing that decisions affecting critical infrastructure must consider the economic impact on local communities and livelihoods.

However, upon investigation, Bala Mohammed was told that there was a letter from the Federal Government warranting the removal of the rail tracks by the contractors, though no reason was given.

While addressing the community, the Governor stressed that, as a leader, he will investigate further in Abuja, considering the fact that railway transportation remains the most viable means of effective and efficient transportation of goods and services for the common man.

Bala Mohammed further wondered if the Federal Government has now abandoned the planned rehabilitation of the various railway infrastructure across the country especially in the North-East subregion which is underserved in terms of infrastructure. (Nigerian Tribune)