The Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, on Tuesday, stated that the appropriate technology would be installed before the re-opening of train operations on the Abuja- Kaduna route.
Sambo, who stated this at a familiarisation visit to both the Idu and Kubwa train stations in Abuja, also expressed optimism that all the passengers kidnapped in the March 28 terrorist attack on the train would soon be reunited with their loved ones.
The minister added that there was a need to ensure necessary measures were taken to avoid a reoccurring attack. Terrorists on that fateful night detonated an Improvised Explosive Device -IED, on the train and forced it to derail a few minutes into the trip to Kaduna.
Eight people were killed that day and 30 others were injured in the incident. The terrorists had additionally abducted 61 passengers after the attack. However, 26 passengers had been released by the criminals, currently. The Nigerian Railway Corporation suspended train operations on the route after the terrorist attack.
The minister had said: “First and foremost, it is very important to get those Nigerians that were kidnapped reunited with their families, otherwise it will be seen as if the government is not sensitive.
“However, the government is not only sensitive but doing everything it can to make sure that those who have been affected by this unfortunate incident are reunited with their families.
“Secondly, you must put in place adequate security and infrastructure to protect and prevent all forms of threats that are possible and leave what you cannot do to God Almighty. We thank God technology can make that feat possible.
“We are trying to deploy the best technology available anywhere in the world that has served very well in other jurisdictions, which we believe can also serve us very well here in Nigeria.”
