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Sustaining new minimum wage

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Sustaining new minimum wage

AS the tensions over the minimum wage subside, concerns remain about the burden of payment on the federal, state, and local governments, and the organised private sector. While states should explore ways to increase their IGR to meet the new wage bill and fund capex, the three tiers of government should widen the tax net and implement ease-of-doing business policies for the private sector to avoid massive job losses.

President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill into law on Monday. The law stipulates a national minimum wage of N70,000 for workers and allows labour unions to renegotiate the wage every three years.

However, the new wage law is at a dire cost to employers. The Senate approved a supplementary budget of N6.2 trillion to the 2024 Appropriation Act for the Federal Government to allow it to pay. The increment is also to support strategic infrastructural interventions. This increased the budget from N28.7 trillion to N35.5 trillion.

However, this implies an increase in the existing budget deficit, adding N3 trillion to the initial N10 trillion deficit. Reliant on the windfall tax on banks’ forex gains, the minimum wage may aggravate the untrammelled borrowing and debt servicing obligations.

Nigeria spent N7.8 trillion to service its debts in 2023, a 121 per cent increase compared to N3.52 trillion in 2022. A report by PwC Nigeria said the country’s debt service could rise from N8.3 trillion in 2024 to N9.3 trillion in 2025 and N11.1 trillion in 2026. This underscores Nigeria’s credit rating outlook and undermines its debt servicing ability.

The Federal Government should urgently cut the cost of governance, tackle insecurity to restore public confidence and invest in capital infrastructure to attract FDIs.

Unfortunately, the government is in a bad place. The twin policies of removing petrol subsidies and floating the naira have provoked adverse economic consequences. Rising inflation and the high cost of living gave the government no choice but to increase the minimum wage by 133 per cent. While workers await more than double their salaries, inflation, currently at 34.19 per cent, remains an unquenchable monster.

Therefore, sustainability remains a major issue. There are growing concerns that states may default. The doubt is backed by a history of states not paying the previous ones faithfully.

According to BudgIT, 15 states have yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage since it was signed into law by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2019. In its 2023 States of States Report, the civic tech NGO noted that the IGR-to-GDP ratio of states was 1.01 per cent. It said 17 states suffered a decline in IGR in 2022. Many states are not financially viable. BudgIT stated that a new minimum regime could push many states into bankruptcy.

During the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the minimum wage was set at N18,000. To pay, the state governors pressured the Federal Government to tamper with the Excess Crude Account.

To avoid this, states must run as viable economic units. They should explore avenues to boost their IGRs, discard white elephants and frivolities, and focus on valuable developmental projects. They should prioritise agriculture. Capital expenditure should be monitored for effective implementation.

The business environment remains unfavourable for the private sector. Manufacturing is bedevilled by several problems, especially energy costs, an impoverished populace, and poor infrastructure. Companies may respond to the minimum wage increase by rightsizing their personnel. The government should incentivise the private sector.

Nasarawa intensifies vaccination amid rising hepatitis cases

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Nasarawa intensifies vaccination amid rising hepatitis cases

The Nasarawa State government has expressed concern over the rising cases of viral Hepatitis B in the state and urged residents to ensure they get tested and vaccinated.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Gaza Gwamna, stated this at a press conference to commemorate the 2024 World Hepatitis Day in Lafia, on Tuesday.

He said the prevalent rate of viral hepatitis in the state was above the national rate, hence it had become a serious concern to the state government.

He said the prevalent rate for Hepatitis B was about 17 per cent in the state, while that of Hepatitis C was 13.2 per cent, more than the national prevalent rate of 8.1 per cent for Hepatitis B and 1.1 for Hepatitis C.

The commissioner said already, the state government had screened more than 220,000 people and provided treatment for 3,000 residents across the 13 local government areas of the state.

“The state has a five-year strategic plan to eliminate Hepatitis C with a target to screen 2.4 million and treat 124,000 people by the year 2030. We have established a state viral hepatitis desk to localise the national guidelines and ensure swift access to services.

“We have also decentralised the care for viral hepatitis from solely the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia to Secondary and Primary Healthcare Centres via a public health approach.

“Also, we have activated a provider-initiated testing approach to increase access to screening services and integrated Hepatitis B and C diagnosis.

“So, we are urging all the residents to take the issue of vaccination very seriously, to enable us to reduce the spread of hepatitis in the state,” he added.

The commissioner further stated that the ministry had negotiated for a substantial reduction in the cost of drugs for the treatment of the disease in the state, to make them more accessible and affordable.

Gwamna also said the government had deployed a medical team to carry out free hepatitis outreach across the 13 LGAs of the state, adding that the team was covering Doma, Karu, Wamba and Obi LGAs where the prevalent rate was high and worrisome.

LAWMA lists benfits of smart waste bins

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LAWMA lists benfits of smart waste bins

The Lagos Waste Management Authority  has urged residents to acquire smart bins for domestic storage of waste to promote a clean and sustainable environment.

LAWMA’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the appeal on Tuesday at its headquarters in Ijora Olopa during a demonstration of the evacuation of smart bins by waste evacuation trucks.

He described the introduction of smart bins into the state’s waste management system as a significant advancement that would streamline the process of waste collection by assigned Private Sector Participation operators.

“The smart bin has added features that improve its functionality. For instance, this smart bin has a Radio Frequency Identification chain that enables us to know when it is emptied by the PSP operators.

“With this bin, we can monitor and assess their performance,” Gbadegesin said.

According to him, the smart bin is geolocated to a specific residence.

“When you buy the smart bin, we deliver it to a house and pin it to that house. So, the bin is forever associated with that house.

“If it is stolen, we can track it, tell where the bin is, and monitor it remotely from our control room.

“The bins are not only smart but also durable with a 15-year warranty.

“They provide comfort to every resident and offer good quality for money,” Gbadegesin said.

He  noted that the durability and tracking ability of the smart bins set them apart from traditional waste bins.

He added that the smart bins were colour-coded to encourage waste separation and recycling among residents.

“Getting this bin means you have now joined the new waste management system we are developing in the state.

“We have two types of bins: the green one for general waste and the blue one for recycling.

“If you have the recycling bin, there is an opportunity for you to receive incentives for the recyclables you collect,” Gbadegesin said.

He urged every Lagosian to embrace the innovation.

“It’s 2024, and with Artificial Intelligence and other innovations, Lagos can’t afford to be left behind.

“If you want to be part of the new Lagos, you need to get this smart bin. It will help us achieve our shared goal of keeping Lagos clean,” Gbadegesin said.

He appealed to Lagos residents to adopt the innovative initiatives introduced by the authority to improve waste management in the state.

Gbadegesin urged them to shun indiscriminate dumping of refuse and engage the services of assigned PSP operators

Fuel crisis lingers as vessels berth at Lagos ports

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Fuel crisis lingers as vessels berth at Lagos ports

The fuel crisis being experienced by Nigerians is yet to abate even as petrol vessels birthed at Lagos and other ports in the country.

Our correspondent observed that the queues in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country persisted on Tuesday as the tanks run dry in filling stations.

Dealers who spoke to The According disclosed that petrol vessels were berthing at the ports one after the other, saying this may not be enough to rescue the situation.

According to them, depot owners now supply fuel to their filling stations only due to low supply.

“The depots are not wet yet. We are still doing epileptic loading. No product for third parties. That is, the depots are prioritising their own stations.

“That is always the case for depot operators. They will prefer to keep their stations wet to promote customer loyalty. Independent marketers will be left in the cold,” a dealer said.

Another source told our correspondent, “It’s not that vessels are not berthing, but the rate cannot meet the expected loading to reduce queues. We need to double up. Apapa jetty alone needs at least two vessels discharging simultaneously, but the vessels are coming one after the other and that  cannot  solve the pending problem.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ports Authority said 16 ships were awaiting to berth at the Lagos ports as of Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria said this was disclosed in the Tuesday edition of the ‘NPA Shipping Position’, a daily briefing by the port authority.

According to the NPA, two vessels are set to berth with petrol, while another two will arrive with bulk and butane gas.

“The 16 vessels will berth at ENL Consortium, AMPT, Apapa Bulk, and Greenview Development Nigeria Ltd. terminals in Lagos,” the NPA stated.

NAN reports that nine vessels are currently discharging crude oil, diesel, containers, gasoline oil, and other cargoes at various ports in Lagos.

The According reported that many petrol depots were dry as of Sunday, leading to fuel scarcity and attendant queues in Lagos, Ogun, parts of Abuja, Niger, and some other states across the country.

It was gathered that black marketers have since taken advantage of the situation, selling as high as N1,300 per litre and N1,500 per litre in parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

Long queues started building up at fuel stations in Abuja and Lagos on Friday and have persisted.

“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT (Federal Capital Territory) is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” NNPC ‘s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, had stated.

The company added that it was “working round the clock with all stakeholders to resolve the situation and restore normalcy in the operations.”

However, despite the assurance by the NNPC, the situation has not improved as expected.

The According reports that the cost of transportation has increased as most filling stations are shut.

Crash fuel, food prices, OPC tells Tinubu

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Crash fuel, food prices, OPC tells Tinubu

The Oodua People’s Congress has called for dialogue between the government and leaders of the August planned protest against economic hardships faced by Nigerians.

The OPC urged President Bola Tinubu on the need for immediate reversal of increased electricity tariff and reduction of food and fuel prices as a goodwill gesture.

OPC gave its counsel in a statement on Tuesday by its President, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi.

It, however, urged the protesters to remain non-violent and toe the path of dialogue.

“A hungry man is an angry man. The government must crash the price of food, electricity and fuel for peace to reign and for people to know that the government cares about their welfare,” Afolabi said.

The Yoruba socio-cultural organisation urged Tinubu to immediately issue an Executive Order opening up all the country’s borders in the South-West and South-South for rapid inflow of food that would lower prices.

The OPC President encouraged the government to concentrate efforts on getting the nation’s refineries to produce domestic fuel to solve the problem of inadequate and expensive petroleum products.

“If one man, Aliko Dangote, can build a refinery in less than 10 years, how can ordinary maintenance of four full-fledged and functional refineries become an impossible task since 1999 when civilians took over power? What is the mystery?

“The government must identify, expose and apprehend cabals and all the enemies making life unduly difficult for commoners in Nigeria. This nation belongs to all of us and Nigerians must be able to enjoy their commonwealth.”

Meanwhile, a civil rights group, Liberty Movement of Nigeria, asked Nigerians to be patient with the government of Tinubu.

The Convener of the group, Olusola Edward, gave the counsel in a press statement obtained on Tuesday in Lagos.

“Dialogue is often the best way out of social discontent,” Edward said. “At the end of any war, people will still sit around the table for discussions to end hostilities. So why not avoid the war and initiate discussions to prevent a breakdown of peace, law and order? ‘Jaw-jaw’ is always better than war-war,” Edward said.

According to him, the diplomatic way the President personally mediated to peacefully end the minimum wage crisis with Organised Labour showcased him as a leader who did not take Nigerians for granted.

“We appeal to the organisers of the protest to shield their sword, join the government to build a stronger nation and propel Nigeria into the superpower that it is destined to be as the largest Black nation in the world,” the group added.

The Take It Back Movement, one of the organisers of the nationwide protest scheduled for Thursday, has affirmed its intention to proceed.

In response, security agencies, including the police, military, and civil defence, have deployed officers across states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to ensure security during the planned protests.

The hashtag “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” continues to trend on X as Nigerians await developments from Thursday.

Steer clear of prisons, NCoS warns protesters

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Steer clear of prisons, NCoS warns protesters

The Federal Government has declared all its 256 custodial centres across the country as “red zones” ahead of the August 1 planned nationwide anti-government protests.

The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service,  Haliru Nababa, said this in a Tuesday statement by the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar.

Nababa emphasised that any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever should steer clear of the custodial centres.

“In view of the purported national protest scheduled to hold on August 1, the service wishes to inform the public that the custodial centres have been designated as red zones.

“Furthermore, the service wishes to enjoin the public that custodial and non-custodial centres are critical national assets that are germane to public safety as well as national security.

“Tampering with or attacking them will lead to a breakdown of law and order, and further exacerbate the security of the society in general,” he said.

Nababa advised all members of the public to join hands with the service to ensure the protection of correctional facilities.

He said adequate security arrangements had been put in place to ensure that no correctional facility was “defiled”.

He added that the Ministry of Interior Joint Task Force had been activated to provide extra security in and around custodial facilities nationwide.

The NCoS boss appreciated the continuous cooperation of members of the public in ensuring peace and tranquility in and around correctional centres nationwide.

He urged public members to report any suspicious plan or movement to the NCoS.

In 2020, the massive nationwide #EndSARS protest led to the compromise of some custodial facilities, leading to jailbreaks during which over 2,000 inmates reportedly escaped.

In Edo State, hoodlums, in the guise of #EndSARS protesters, attacked the Oko and Benin custodial centres where a total of 1,993 inmates escaped, while 58 inmates escaped from the Okitipupa custodial centre in Ondo State.

Passengers stranded as court grounds Arik Air

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Passengers stranded as court grounds Arik Air

Many air passengers of Arik Air were left stranded at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja on Tuesday.

The trips were abruptly stalled after the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency grounded an aircraft owned by the airline over a court order instituted by the airline’s creditor and billionaire businessman, Arthur Eze.

According learned that Eze went to court in protest against his unpaid $2.5m by the founder of Arik Air, Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide.

In a statement by the spokesperson of NAMA, Abdullahi Musa, on Tuesday, the agency said this development stems from an enforcement action by the FCT High Court on July 19, 2024, which involved attaching Arik’s planes to secure the debt.

“Arik was further given a notice of public auction of the planes by the court which was slated to hold on July 26, 2024 if they fail to pay the judgment debt,” the statement partly read.

While Arik has since obtained an ex-parte order stopping it from further execution, NAMA has yet to be formally served. In response, NAMA decided to ground the aircraft to preserve the subject matter of the dispute.

“We have decided to comply with the effect of the Supreme Court order, by grounding the aircraft (subject of dispute) so that they are not taken out of the jurisdiction of the court or tampered with in a way as to frustrate the courts,” the statement stated.

 “The minister, being a member of the inner bar himself understands the implication of the Supreme Court order dismissing the motion for leave to appeal and will not risk his license as a legal practitioner or his privilege as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria by engaging in acts that will frustrate an order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” NAMA affirmed.

This development dashed the hope of many travellers who had planned their movements to other destinations on Tuesday through the airline.

A passenger who simply identified himself as Mr Adeniran, said he had planned to attend a business meeting in Abuja on Wednesday morning but had to return home after the news got to him at the airport around 4:02pm.

“I am very disappointed, I will not only lose money for not making the appointment in Abuja, my company will also be surcharged for suddenly pulling out of a meeting we planned together in the last three weeks. What kind of a disappointment is this?

“Please as a journalist if there is a way you can appeal to them for us, let them fix us on another plane today. I am so frustrated now, I am not happy at all. As I speak with you I am on my way home. “

Also, a father of three, Aina Oluwaseun, whose children had gone on a holiday to Abuja, had bought tickets for the trio’s return on Tuesday afternoon but that did not happen.

Expressing his frustration, Aina said he had gone to the airport to speak with the officials of Arik Air in Lagos if his children could be put on another flight but met disappointment as the officials said there was nothing they could do to salvage the situation at the moment.

“I really do not know what to do. They are yet to refund our money, or are they expecting me to pay another airline to bring my children home? I am using this medium to appeal to them to either put my children on another aircraft or refund my money in 72 hours.”

 The Chief Executive Officer of Arik Air, Capt Roy Ilegbodu (in receivership) expressed shock over the grounding of the airlines.

According to him, the decision was made without warning or consultation, saying it would affect its operations.

Ilegbodu who spoke through a statement he personally signed, said, “Our priority has always been to connect people and facilitate commerce, especially on critical domestic routes. The grounding of our fleet disrupts these vital services, leaving passengers stranded and inflating already high travel costs.

“This decision hurts everyday Nigerians who rely on our flights for business, family, and essential activities.”

He added that the decision also disregards ongoing judicial processes.

He said on February 26, 2016, a judgement was made in favour of Atlas Petroleum International Limited and Arthur Eze. However, there is an ongoing case in the Federal High Court, where the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria is asserting its secured interest in Arik’s assets.

 “Despite this, a writ of attachment was issued on July 18, 2024, targeting its aircraft, after which, further to an originating motion filed by AMCON, the High Court of the FCT on July 25, 2024, clearly instructed all parties to maintain the status quo.

“We therefore are perplexed as to the grounding of our fleet, which is an overreach of the ongoing judicial processes and directives of court.

“We believe this action undermines the rule of law and sets a dangerous precedent, prioritising unsecured private interests over the public good and the rights of secured creditors. We are committed to following the legal process and have full faith in the judiciary to resolve these matters fairly.”

He disclosed that Arik has always been a proud partner in Nigeria’s growth, providing reliable and safe air travel.

“We urge the authorities to reconsider this decision, lift the grounding order, and allow us to continue serving the public and supporting the economy. We stand with our passengers and employees during this challenging time and are working tirelessly to resolve this situation. Your support and understanding are greatly appreciated.”

However, a source hinted the According that on July 19, 2024, the enforcement department of the FCT High Court enforced an order made by the court regarding a debt of $2.5m owed by Arik Air to Atlas Petroleum International Limited by attaching their aircraft.

NNPC targets two million barrels oil production daily

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NNPC targets two million barrels oil production daily

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced its goal to increase crude oil production to two million barrels per day by the end of the year.

The country’s daily production rose from 1.27 million barrels in June to 1.6 million in July, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

Speaking during a meeting with Maritime Stakeholders at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters on Tuesday, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, expressed optimism that the target would be met, emphasising that NNPC was fully committed to achieving it.

Represented by the Managing Director of Pipeline NNPC, Folorunsho Karim, the oil firm’s boss urged security agencies to continue their efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism to help the company meet its target.

He said, “The target is to increase production to two million barrels by the end of the year, and we are fully committed to doing that. I appreciate the support of the Nigerian Navy in making this possible.

“They have been providing significant support, which has resulted in a reduction in oil theft. Pipeline vandalism has also decreased significantly, and there is a lot currently happening in the industry. We hope to sustain this progress to achieve our target of two million barrels per day by the end of the year.”

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said Nigeria’s development has faced numerous complex security challenges over the past few decades, including violent agitations, oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and piracy/sea robbery.

Ogalla added that these issues were driven by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, communal clashes, poverty, and unemployment.

“The traditional methods of addressing these security challenges have not yielded the desired results. Hence, the meeting also aimed to address emerging security issues arising from the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

“The Federal Government’s drive to develop the nation’s blue economy requires the support of all stakeholders,” he added.

He stated that the Navy was working to ensure its operations did not hinder operators but instead supported them in performing their duties and optimally producing.

Ogalla said, “Providing security is a way to promote ease of doing business because if there is no security, operators cannot function.

“We also ensure that our arrests and detentions do not impede legitimate business operators. When we make arrests, we conduct preliminary investigations quickly and release vessels if the information is found to be incorrect, so as not to disrupt businesses. This is our general contribution.

“We aim to promote ease of doing business by ensuring our operations and patrols do not create problems for operators. Instead, we support them by assuring them of protection from criminal elements who seek to disrupt business activities in Nigeria.”

FCMB shops for N110bn fresh capital

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FCMB shops for N110bn fresh capital

FCMB Group has announced plans to raise N110bn by issuing 15,197,289,219 ordinary shares of N0.50 each at N7.30 per share.

This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of First City Monument Bank, Ladi Balogun, during the “Facts Behind the Offer” presentation by FCMB Group Plc at the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday.

Balogun explained that the public offer, expected to conclude by October, would be complemented by a private placement.

Looking ahead, he stated that the bank planned to raise N397bn through the selling of minority stakes in two of its subsidiaries, including the pension business and Credit Direct in 2025.

“We anticipate raising N89m to N90m from these sales, which will be injected into the bank to promote capital,” Balogun added.

He also disclosed that FCMB was in discussions with several offshore investors for a private placement.

“This will be in the form of preference shares in the holding company, downstreamed as equity to the bank, helping us achieve our target of raising N397bn. We have an aspiration to move to Tier 1.

“The first phase is what we’re currently executing. We’ll be raising a total of N150bn through both a public offer and a small private placement. This phase should be concluded by October this year,” he added.

Regarding the capital raise, Balogun mentioned that the second phase would involve selling minority interests in one or two of the bank’s subsidiaries, projected to generate between N80bn and N100bn, which would help raise the group’s total capital to approximately N250bn.

“The second phase will be selling minority interests in one or two of our subsidiaries, where we hope to generate between N80bn and N100bn. This will bring us to about N250bn. The third phase will involve a private placement towards the end of next year,” he remarked.

He stated that the proceeds from this capital raise would be allocated to drive business growth, including expanding lending to critical sectors such as agriculture, small and medium-scale businesses, and non-oil exports.

According to Balogun, investment in technology is a priority, aiming to enhance cybersecurity, improve service quality, and reduce operational costs.

Additionally, the bank plans to invest in human capital to support its growth and leadership pipeline.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Limited, Jude Chiemeka, emphasised the exchange’s commitment to the green economy and technological advancements.

“We have created a system to allow our investors access to instruments with measurable Environmental, Social, and Governance impacts. This is part of our contribution to the green economy,” Chiemeka stated.

He further highlighted the role of technology in NGX’s strategy, saying, “Beyond our green initiatives, we have a robust platform that enhances corporate governance and supports seamless trading.

He added that the exchange investments in technology will ensure that brokers can trade from the comfort of their homes, even amid any disruptions.

He declared that the exchange was committed to providing financial education to its investors to empower them to make informed decisions and navigate the market more effectively.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, underscored the significance of digital transformation in the exchange’s operations.

  “A lot of activities are changing digitally in our markets.  Since the start of the recapitalisation process, the exchange has embraced digital solutions that enhance efficiency and transparency, Popoola stated.

In March 2024, the CBN ordered banks in the country to raise fresh capital, increasing the capital base for commercial lenders with international licenses to N500bn, those with national authorisation to N200bn, banks with regional authorization and merchant lenders to N50bn.

NRC tightens train security with cameras

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NRC tightens train security with cameras

Nigerian Railway Corporation has ramped up efforts to ensure passenger safety on its train services by installing cameras and implementing security strategies.

The According correspondent, who visited the Idu Train Station, observed that not less than three cameras were installed in each of the coaches.

Operations Manager at the train station, Abdul Azeez, told our correspondent that the NRC has implemented comprehensive measures to mitigate risks and safeguard travellers.

“We have a control centre where the movements of the train are being monitored, including both departure and arrival times.

“If there’s anything, the driver will communicate with the control, and the control will communicate with the driver. We have military personnel en route assigned by the Federal Government because of the threats of bandits,” Azeez explained.

Recall that there have been several instances of train derailments, such as the incident on June 5, when a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed at the Asha station, leaving many passengers stranded in the Federal Capital Territory.

Another incident occurred on May 26, when a train conveying dozens of passengers departed Kaduna around 8:05 am but derailed at Jere about an hour later, causing three carriages to go off the tracks.

The NRC official noted that the corporation had stationed officers at strategic routes considered dangerous to bolster security.

He highlighted the role of the National Identity Management Commission in enhancing security protocols, stating, “Even the checking with NIMC came in as a result of insecurity because you want to know who is going into the train.”

Azeez also emphasised the importance of local recruitment in improving security.

“The railway is now employing people within the vicinity of a particular railway town, so if you’re from a particular town, you will be the one monitoring that area. That is one of the measures the NRC has taken,” he stated.

However, despite these efforts, passengers still express fears over their safety.

A passenger, Mohammed Suleiman, said, “They need to bring in more security personnel and also add more checks.”

Another passenger, who identified himself as Umar, echoed the same sentiments while pointing out additional areas for improvement.

“I don’t know if there are cameras inside the train, but I know security personnel have been increased. We are just praying that nothing will happen again. Because in Nigeria, you can’t determine what will happen, but we pray things will be better. “We need better than this. To be honest, this is substandard. If it’s possible, increase the speed; the tracks are outdated, and more coaches are needed,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the NRC official assured that the Federal Government is actively addressing the concerns.

“On the alert of the Federal Government, a lot of security personnel move around. It’s only at night that they don’t move, and it’s at night most of these things happen.

“The Federal Government has put measures in place, whereby, whatever is happening, we will see it. Something is in progress,” he noted.

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