The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the Federal Government’s huge investments in the rail transportation are yeilding results leading to an improved service delivery and greater operational efficiency.
The Managing Director of NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.
Opeifa said this while playing host to the leadership of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), led by the National President and Chairman of the Board, Dr Olusegun Obayendo.
Opeifa promised to ensure more development in the rail sector that would cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.
“We now have in the NRC a teaming group of professionals who can be regarded as the heroes of railway mobility.
“These people have kept the nation’s railway going simply because the Chinese government and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) have encouraged technology transfer.
“This has helped in building human capacity in line with the intentions of the Federal Government’s investments,” he said.
Opeifa said the NRC would be building on the competencies of these crop of engineers to improve capacity and efficiency of the railway.
He said the corporation would maximise its potential within the limit of available funds.
“Opeifa said the sector is blessed with a crop of young engineers who can remodel and retrofit any coach and locomotive engines.
“Our engineers can build train tracks given the support they have gained from the CCECC and the Chinese government,” Opeifa said.
He said the corporation would take full advantage of its position as the facilitator of business by fulfilling its traditional mandate not only as a rail transport management company, but also a logistics firm.
“The legacy narrow gauge tracks is already moving into the ports. In partnership with a terminal operator, the corporation is already moving 70, 40 feet containers thrice a week, from the Apapa Port to the Inland Dry Port in Ibadan, Oyo State.
“Talks are at advanced stage for another terminal operator to soon commence bulk movement operation.
“In a matter of months, the corporation will achieve seamless cargo movement beyond Ibadan from Lagos, as movement to Ilorin, Mokwa and Minna will soon begin,” he said.
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Opeifa said the corporation was working at reactivating the Idogo line between Ogun and Lagos states, to ensure seamless movement of farm produce.
He said the NRC was encouraging state governments to take advantage of the train spurs within their territories to build new lines that would serve the people transportation needs.
He listed Ogun, Bauchi, Niger, Plateau, Borno, among the states showing interests to copy Lagos State.
Earlier, the CIOTA President, Obayendo, commended President Bola Tinubu for his foresight in picking Opeifa for the job.
Obayendo described Opeifa as a round peg in a round hole, adding that as a Fellow of the Institute, he had the right pedigree to make the best of the assignment
