Governor Bala Mohammed Raises Alarm on Rail Infrastructure Removal

Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed expressed alarm regarding the removal of railway sleepers along the Alkaleri-Tafawa Balewa rail corridor, which he described as a troubling development that poses potential harm to the state's economic interests. The governor reported that contractors were seen removing the sleepers on a Saturday during his visit to Alkaleri Local Government Area.

He called for urgent intervention from relevant authorities and questioned the basis for dismantling the rail infrastructure, criticizing the action as a national asset being tampered with without proper consultation with the state government. Governor Mohammed directed his Chief of Staff to write to the Federal Ministry of Transport seeking clarification on the situation.

He noted that security personnel accompanied the contractors, who claimed their actions were authorized by the federal government. The governor emphasized the importance of the rail line for transporting agricultural produce and warned that the removal of the railway sleepers could worsen transport challenges and negatively affect economic activities in the community.