Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has voiced concern over the ongoing removal of railway sleepers along rail routes in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa, warning that dismantling such infrastructure could undermine transport access and economic activity in the affected areas.

The governor raised the issue after witnessing contractors reportedly extracting railway sleepers during a trip to Alkaleri on Saturday. Disturbed by the development, he directed his Chief of Staff to formally contact the Federal Ministry of Transport for clarification on the exercise.

Mohammed said the explanation given by security personnel escorting the workers—that the operation was being carried out under federal instruction—was not sufficient, stressing that assets of national importance should not be removed without proper consultation with state authorities.

He cautioned that stripping away rail infrastructure from strategic corridors may signal neglect of communities that depend heavily on rail transport for mobility and the movement of agricultural produce.

The governor called for greater transparency and stronger coordination between federal and state governments, insisting that decisions involving critical infrastructure must take into account their broader economic consequences on local livelihoods and regional development.