By Seyi Babalola
The Federal Executive Council has authorised a budget of over N495 million for the purchase and installation of baggage scanners at railway stations in the states of Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council meeting, and Ademola Adegoroye, the Minister of State for Transportation, indicated that it was done to improve security of people and property at the railway facilities.
According to him, “The devices to be deployed at railway stations in Idu, Rigassa, Kubwa, Jere, Kano and Kaduna include eight colour imaging x-rays, eight body scanners walk through metal detectors and 50 handheld scanners for an effective security network.”
According to him, because they are starting the railway revolution, they are attempting to put in place a lot of things, thus such equipment has to be deployed at the train stations in order to ensure the protection of people and property.
The federal government, he said, does not want individuals to come and destroy all it has been attempting to put in place in that industry.
According to the Minister, the Federal Executive Council has given a 10-year concession to Messrs Arcuff to provide two-way services at Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Jetty for optimum performance.
Adegoroye assured that the company would carry out towing services so that ship berthing and discharge of goods would be easier in the two ports.