The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the weekend handed over the security of the Abuja Metro to two companies - Al-Ahly Security Guards Ltd and Segad Guards and Protection Ltd.
The responsibility of protecting the rail facilities was passed to the two security companies from the CCECC, the company that built and had protected the railway mass transit.
At the handing over ceremony, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, Abdullahi Adamu Candido said the transfer is part of plans towards the takeoff of the Abuja Metro.
He charged the security contractors to protect the equipment from vandals who had destroyed the tracks in the past.
Candido added that the vandalized equipment would be repaired soon.
"In the recent past, hooligans and some bad elements ransacked the tracks and vandalized very critical equipment of the rail tracks,” he said.
“This will not be tolerated any longer and as the administration is gearing towards the takeoff of the Abuja Metro. This can only be achieved if our tracks are safe.
"So, because the maintenance will soon commence, it is only clear that this equipment that is spread from the metro station and all through the tracks, needs to be protected and secured."
The FCTA’s Acting Director of the Department of Transportation, Joseph Akinteye, explained that the local contractors are coming on board as the CCECC’s terms of service end in December 2022.
"After the commissioning of the Abuja Railway Mass Transit in the year 2007, the contractor, CCECC has been protecting the equipment and components of this project but according to our Memorandum of Understanding, their services would end by the end of December 2022.”
The Abuja metro rail was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2018 but was abandoned shortly after opening for passengers.
The 42.5 km Lot 1 has two lines and 12 stations connecting Abuja city center to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
Three other lots connect Abuja city to the suburbs of Nyanya, Dobi, and Deidei.
