Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transportation, has stated that the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route has cost more than N3 billion.

Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that more than N3bn has been lost to the attack on the Abuja-Kaduna rail route.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the attack site, the Minister stated that the unfortunate event could have been avoided if a N3 billion digital security equipment had been purchased.

Amaechi stated,

“We had a good idea what the problem would be. We were well aware that we required digital security equipment. We made an application for it.

“Because if we had that equipment, you wouldn’t see anyone on that track.” And I warned that people’s lives would be lost. Now, people are dying. There are eight people dead and 25 people in the hospital. We have no idea how many people have been kidnapped.

And the cost of that equipment is just N3 billion. The cost of what we’ve lost is more than N3 billion. We’ve lost tracks, we’ve lost locomotives and coaches. We’ve lost human beings. And the equipment is just N3 billion.

“To fix all the things on that track now, will cost us more than N3 billion. And now even the things we said give us approval to buy – at the time we asked for it, dollar was N400, now it is N500. When you come with sincerity to government and your colleagues and people are stopping you, it is annoying.”