A University of Lagos lecturer, Dr Femi Aiyegbajeje, has called for the death penalty for people who vandalise railway infrastructure, warning that the destruction of critical transport facilities threatens public safety and Nigeria’s economic development.

Aiyegbajeje made the call on Friday at the second edition of the Nigeria Transport Summit in Ikeja, Lagos, where transport and security stakeholders discussed ways to strengthen the country’s transportation system and protect vital infrastructure.

The senior lecturer said railway infrastructure must be protected against vandalism because an efficient rail network could improve freight movement, reduce logistics bottlenecks and support economic growth.

He argued that rail transport should play a central role in Nigeria’s logistics system, particularly in moving large volumes of goods over medium and long distances.

According to him, railways deliver greater economic value when properly integrated with road, maritime and air transport rather than operating as isolated infrastructure.

“Rail creates national value when it operates as part of an end-to-end logistics chain, rather than as an isolated asset,” he said.

The call comes amid persistent concerns over the theft and destruction of railway materials, including tracks and other components that could compromise train operations and expose passengers to danger.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has previously warned that vandalism along railway corridors could disrupt services, cause derailments and destroy public investments worth billions of naira.

At the summit, the Executive Director of Operations and Technical at Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, Warredi Enisuoh, called for security awareness to be introduced into Nigeria’s school curriculum from the basic education level.

Enisuoh said criminals often exploit gaps in public awareness and weaknesses in security systems to carry out their activities.

He also advocated the deployment of facial recognition technology and long-range thermal drones to improve the protection of vulnerable supply chains and critical infrastructure.

The security expert maintained that Nigeria needed to strengthen preventive measures instead of relying mainly on responses after crimes had occurred.

He said teaching children to recognise and report potential security threats could help improve public vigilance as kidnapping and other security challenges continue to affect communities.

Enisuoh further urged the Federal Government to strengthen surveillance of Nigeria’s territorial waters to curb illegal fishing and the alleged exploitation of the country’s marine resources by foreign vessels.

He called for stronger regulation and commercial development of solid minerals, arguing that better management of the country’s natural resources could generate additional revenue and reduce dependence on petroleum.

Earlier, the summit convener, Pearl Ngwama, warned that geopolitical tensions, volatile oil prices and disruptions to international shipping were increasing transportation and logistics costs for Nigerian businesses and consumers.

She said higher fuel expenses were placing pressure on airlines, shipping companies and road haulage operators, with the additional costs feeding into passenger fares and the prices of goods.

Ngwama called for improved coordination among the aviation, maritime, rail, road and inland waterways sectors, arguing that fragmented planning limits the benefits Nigeria can derive from investments in transport infrastructure.

She said efficient cargo movement required stronger connections between seaports, railways, industrial centres and road networks.

The summit focused on the theme, “Navigating Global Disruption and the Road Ahead: Mobility, Energy and Trade Facilitation for Resilient Future.”