Train derailment: Reps give minister 48 hours to appear

Reps

The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport yesterday gave the Minister not Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, 48 hours’ ultimatum to appear before the House to explain circumstances surrounding the recent derailment of a Kaduna-bound train with about 618 passengers on board.

The Committee frowned at the absence of the Minister at the investigative hearing of the derailment of the train.

Chairman of the committee, Blessing Onuh, said the Committee is surprised that the Minister chose to turn his back on the parliament at a time Nigerians needed him most.She said: “There is the saying that a toad does not run in the day time for nothing. You all know that we are on break. It is because of this issue that that some of us came from Lagos just to be in this meeting. Here we are and the Minister is not here.“We seriously frown at this because it is one issue that we must take seriously. We are here to investigate the recent rail derailment and the Minister is not here. This is a serious issue because our brothers and sisters were affected. We will discontinue the meeting and invite the minister to appear in person within 48 hours. Nation