The management of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, has acknowledged media reports on an assault on Dr. Mikail Abdussalam, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, at Obafemi Awolowo Train Station in Moniya, Ibadan.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos.
“The corporation views the incident with serious concern and wishes to state clearly that harassment, intimidation, or any form of misconduct towards passengers or members of the public is unacceptable.
“This is not in line with the values and operational standards of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“Management has, therefore, ordered an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,” he said.
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He said any personnel found to have acted contrary to the corporation’s professional and public service code of conduct would be subjected to appropriate disciplinary measures in accordance with established regulations and laws.
“The Nigerian railway corporation sincerely regrets the unfortunate incident and extends its apologies to the lecturer for the distress caused.
“The corporation remains committed to ensuring that all passengers and visitors at its stations are treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism at all times.
“The NRC assures the public that necessary steps are being taken to reinforce adherence to customer service standards across all its facilities to prevent a recurrence of such incidents,” he said.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation has assured the public that it will take all necessary steps to ensure such incidents do not recur. Dr. Kayode Opeifa emphasised that the corporation is reviewing staff training programs and standard operating procedures to reinforce customer service protocols across all stations.
In addition, NRC management has called on passengers and members of the public to report any instances of misconduct or harassment immediately to the station authorities or through the NRC customer service channels. “We encourage transparency and prompt reporting to maintain a safe and respectful environment for everyone,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the University of Ibadan has reached out to Dr. Mikail Abdussalam, expressing concern over the alleged incident and pledging to support him during the investigation. The institution also urged the NRC to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry to ensure accountability and safeguard the rights of passengers.
NAN
