The Minister of Transport, Senator Saidu Alkali, has directed contractors handling the Kaduna-Kano rail line to review construction materials against vandalization.
The Minister gave the directive while inspecting the level of work on the project site in Makarfi Local Government area of Kaduna State yesterday. He told the contractors to use anti-theft clips instead of the metal clips to hold the rail track.
In his words, “We came to see by ourselves; you know that seeing is believing. We are able to appraise the performance of the contractors of Kaduna-Kano rail project.
“You can see as we stand here, we started having some little observations in the clips they are using. We asked them to use anti-theft clips so that they cannot be easily removed.
“Although this project has security challenge, we will collaborate with security to ensure we deliver the project to Nigerians in the shortest possible time.”
Earlier, the project coordinator of foreign contractors, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mark Zoe, said the project has reached 22.6 per cent completion.
The contractors however lamented security challenge in the area and asked for collaboration with the military, noting that in last two months, two of their staff were kidnapped along Tashar Yari in Makarfi Local Government area of Kaduna State.
The project was awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) in 2021.