Rotimi Amaechi has sought Nigerian Army protection for rail workers.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has solicited for security protection from the Nigerian Army for workers on rail projects due to the country’s security challenges.
The Minister while paying a courtesy visit to Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Farouk Yahaya, in Abuja on Friday, said the presence of military officers in various construction sites will boost the morale of workers and give the expatriates a good sense of security.
He further asked for COAS to grant the ministry access through some military establishments — especially the rail track linking Kaduna and Kano, which was designed to pass through the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
The Minister added that the access will reduce the costs of construction and improve the development of the barracks’ environment.
The Chief of Army Staff on his part, commended the Minister for the visit, adding that such activities gives room for deliberation of national development issues.
Yahaya, therefore, assured the Minister of the willingness of the army to provide the needed support for the successful execution of the rail projects across the nation.
He said, “It is pleasing to note what you have been able to do in the rail sector, especially the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan lines, among others.
“We are willing and ready to provide security required to ensure the safety of the workers on the projects.”
The Kaduna-Kano rail line project will commence later this month, while works on Kano-Maradi and Maiduguri-Port Harcourt lines will begin in July.
