Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has raised a major alarm over the systematic dismantling of railway infrastructure in the state.
The Governor discovered contractors removing critical railway sleepers in the Alkaleri Local Government Area, a move he has condemned as deeply disturbing and unacceptable
Alkaleri is one of the key local government areas in Bauchi State serving as a transit point for the national rail network.
For decades, the rail lines connected the state to the rest of the country, driving trade and human mobility.
However, like in many parts of Nigeria, the rail system here has been lying dormant for years. The issue came to a head when Governor Bala Mohammed spotted contractors actively ripping up the railway tracks while he was traveling to Alkaleri for an official engagement.
The Governor stopped his convoy to confront security personnel guarding the site, demanding to know who authorised the operation.
The security team on site claimed they were acting on direct orders from the Federal Government.
Unsatisfied with the verbal explanation, Governor Mohammed directed his Chief of Staff to immediately issue a formal letter to the Federal Ministry of Transport.
The state government is demanding an urgent explanation as to why national assets are being dismantled without local consultation.
The Governor warned that stripping the state of its railway infrastructure signals a total neglect of the region. He emphasised that reviving the rail system remains the only sustainable solution to Nigeria’s current transportation and logistics crises.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
