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Tag: Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC)

  • NRC completes recovery, set for safety checks after Asham derailment

    NRC completes recovery, set for safety checks after Asham derailment

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) said it has completed the recovery of all coaches and locomotives involved in the August 26 Abuja-Kaduna train derailment at Asham with track repairs close to completion and safety assessments now underway.

    The Corporation confirmed that its engineers re-railed the affected train and moved the assets to designated workshops for technical checks. It added that the main line has been restored to a level that allows safe operations, though work on the secondary track is still ongoing.

    “We have commenced a comprehensive safety and infrastructure assessment to ensure that all aspects of the corridor meet the highest standards of safety, durability, and reliability before operations resume,” the NRC said in a statement by its Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa.

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    The agency stressed that train services would only resume after all inspections, tests and certifications are concluded. “Safety remains our top priority,” it noted, assuring passengers of renewed confidence in rail travel.

    On passenger welfare, the NRC said that of the 618 passengers on board the affected train, 22 sustained injuries and are recovering. It disclosed that 512 passengers have been contacted, while 71 remain unreachable due to wrong phone numbers and other reasons.

    The Corporation added that its in-house investigation pointed to “human error which was the result of excessive speeding and misapplication of the emergency braking system.” It, however, said it awaits the findings of the committee set up by the Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, as well as the report of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB).

    Expressing gratitude to passengers, security agencies, media houses, and the Federal Ministry of Transportation for their support, the NRC praised the professionalism of its engineers who, it said, demonstrated “extraordinary competence” during recovery operations.

    The Corporation assured that an official announcement on the resumption of Abuja-Kaduna services will be made soon.

  • NRC suspends Abuja-Kaduna train operation indefinitely

    NRC suspends Abuja-Kaduna train operation indefinitely

    • Six passengers injured in derailment

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has suspended the Abuja-Kaduna train service indefinitely.

    This followed the derailment of the train yesterday.

    The Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Kayode Olaifa, announced this in Abuja.

    The corporation said 618 passengers were on board the train when it derailed near Asham train station.

    Opeifa said measures were in place to refund passengers who were on board the train.

    The managing director debunked insinuations that the trains were in poor condition.

    The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Hajiya Zubaida Umar, led the agency’s rescue team to the site of a train derailment.

    The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) has also launched a probe to ascertain the cause of the accident.

    An official in NRC told The Nation that the accident may have been caused by vandalism or improper fixing of the point on the tracks.

    On the likely cause of the accident, a source in NRC said: “According to an official on the ground at Asham station, the problem occurred at the point in the track. There’s a place where the tracks meet each other. It’s actually at the station. You have line one, line two, and line three.

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    “So, they interchange the lines for the train with those points. So, if those points are not properly set and the train goes into it, it will fall. So, either it was vandalised or the point was not properly fixed.

    “They are still doing investigations to know whether it was vandalised. One train used it earlier in the morning, so we don’t know whether it was when that train passed that it was vandalised or maybe something else. We don’t really know.

    “It could also be caused by the enemy of the state. We don’t know whether it’s the enemy of state or negligence of duty by the officials that are supposed to change the points, because the points are changed manually.”

    Opeifa had announced that six passengers were injured in the train derailment.

    A statement, posted on the corporation’s X handle @info_NRC, reads: “The Nigerian Railway Corporation confirms a train derailment involving our Kaduna-bound AKTS train service at 11:09 a.m. at KM 49 between Kubwa station and Asham station.

    “Emergency rescue, medical personnel, and nearby hospitals have already been mobilised. Full complement of security already on the ground as effort is ongoing to move all passengers on train back to Abuja safely.

    “Kindly bear with us at this moment.”

  • Five institutions, NRC sign pact on local manpower growth

    Five institutions, NRC sign pact on local manpower growth

    Five tertiary institutions among them Trinity University, based in Lagos, and Nigeria’s foremost polytechnic, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), have signed a pact for the local training of Nigerians in railway engineering with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

    Other tertiary institutions that signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the NRC are the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State, and the Kaduna Polytechnic (KADPOLY), which signed virtually.

    At the signing, which took place at the corporation’s boardroom, the NRC Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said the development will help resolve the issue of shortage of manpower for the nation’s growing rail sub-sector of the transportation industry.

    In particular, he said a number of the workforce who are always stagnated because of lack of requisite academic qualifications, will now have an opportunity to improve their skills and opportunities available to them in the burgeoning railway industry.

    Opeifa stated that the MoU is geared towards acquiring requisite railway technology that will make them competitive career wise.

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    According to the NRC MD, “The MoU we signed today is to create new partnerships, transfer technology, and take advantage on both ends. It is also geared towards developing an enduring legacy that will transcend this generation in skill acquisition, skill dissemination and skill utilisation.

    “On the other end for our staff, it will stop this era of stagnation in promotion which demotivates many of them as their staff progression is stalled as a result of lack of requisite skills. This opportunity will give some of our workers a chance to get diploma, and move beyond level six.

    “For those who have HND, this will afford them the opportunity to move forward. Where there is degree limitations, they can get university qualification in rail technology, in rail administration or rail management.

    “So, that’s what this is all about. It will also allow us to put to maximum use the skillset available in railway, which is not available in many industries. Skillset like digital technology, track technology, locomotive engineering, rail engineering, logistics engineering, logistics management, and the rest, which we are very good at, will now be shared with these institutions, thereby improving competences at both ends.

     “This affords the nation a win-win situation, where people who are doing any particular skill can acquire them. Where our own staff also have an opportunity to share their skills. Where people who retire from the railway can end up in the polytechnic or universities as guest lecturers or whatever. Where people in the university can come here, use our equipment, use our facilities, and we get maximum benefits from such collaboration.

     ‘‘So, it’s a win-win situation for the nation.”

    On whether this MoU will stop foreign training, the NRC MD stated that, “No, it may not. It depends on the type of training. There is a saying that if knowledge is in China, go and look for it. If knowledge is in Abu Dhabi, go for it’’.

  • NRC promises to restore Offa train service before end of year

    NRC promises to restore Offa train service before end of year

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring commercial train services on the Lagos-Kano narrow gauge corridor, reaching Offa in Kwara State before the end of this year.

    NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, announced this in a statement yesterday in Lagos by the corporation’s acting Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Callistus Unyimadu.

    Opeifa made the promise while hosting members of the Lagos State chapter of the Offa Descendants Union (ODU), led by Dr. Waheed Olagunju.

    The NRC boss explained that although the western narrow gauge line would have resumed operations earlier, the washout along the corridor delayed the process.

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    “I assure that NRC engineers are working round the clock to repair damaged tracks with service reactivation expected to reach Offa, Ilorin, Mokwa, Kaduna, and ultimately Kano.

    “NRC applauds the people of Offa for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding railway assets, their efforts as exemplary,” he said.

    Opeifa assured that under his leadership, the NRC would not only reactivate the Offa railway line but also revive the Railway Recreation Club, boosting community activities in the town.

    Reiterating the importance of Offa in Nigeria’s railway history, Opeifa promised that the town would be prioritised under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He highlighted NRC’s recent partnerships with five higher institutions, including the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, to leverage mutual manpower development, underscoring the corporation’s dedication to developing skilled railway professionals.

    The NRC boss also announced that the corporation is aggressively optimising Nigeria’s railway assets by collaborating with state governments under its “Railing with the states” by reactivating and putting to use its narrow gauge lines, bringing train services closer to the people.

    Olagunju hailed Opeifa for transforming the NRC since his appointment.

    The erstwhile broadcaster noted that the Offa community, with the blessing of their traditional ruler, looked forward to the return of train operations, a service enjoyed for over 113 years.

  • Eid: NRC extends special train operations

    Eid: NRC extends special train operations

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) will operate additional special train services across its major standard gauge corridors – Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna – on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

    The Managing Director of NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

    The statement was signed by Mr Callistus Unyimadu, Acting Deputy Director Public Relations, NRC.

    Opeifa said the extension was in response to exceptional surge in passengers turnout during earlier special services in celebration of the Eid el Kabir.

    “This follows the success of earlier special trips on Thursday, June 5, which witnessed full bookings and high commuter traffic.

    “The extra trips would ease return travel for festive travellers heading back to their destinations,” he said.

    According to Opeifa, the scheduled trips are: Monday – Lagos to Ibadan at 8.00 am., 1.55 pm. and 4.00 pm., and Ibadan to Lagos at 8.00 am., 11.03 a.m. and 4.46 pm.

    He said that NRC extended the Abuja-Kaduna train services to Tuesday.

    “To manage the continued high demand on the Abuja-Kaduna corridors, NRC will extend its full six trips daily schedule originally applicable from Friday to Monday to Tuesday, June 11,” he said.

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    He said that the schedule for Abuja to Kaduna services would be 7.45 a.m., 2.00 p.m. and 3.10 p.m. while Kaduna to Abuja services would take place  at 7.00 am., 2.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m.

    According to Opeifa, the gesture demonstrates the corporation’s responsiveness to public needs and dedication to delivering efficient, safe and timely rail services.

    “We are pleased with public response to our special services.

    “These additional trips are part of our commitment to meeting the growing demand for rail mobility,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NRC advised all passengers to arrive early for security screening and boarding as train departure would be strictly on schedule.

    It also advised passengers to complete their online bookings in advance.

  • Opeifa: NRC ready for cargo train services

    Opeifa: NRC ready for cargo train services

    The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa yesterday said the Western District is ready for cargo train movement between Lagos and Kano on the narrow and gauge.

    Opeifa spoke at Dugbe, the Ibadan Narrow Gauge Train Station after inspecting Moniya Freight Park, in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the tour of operations on the Western Line, as part of his inspection tour of all districts which commenced on Friday.

    He said: “The essence of this tour is to enable us to access our readiness to handle the cargo side of our business as business and logistics facilitator. We are happy with the extent of what we have seen and we can comfortably say we are ready to move any manner of cargo for any of our customers.”

    Opeifa had commenced the tour from the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station at Ebute Metta, where he inspected the facilities available for passengers’ convenience.

    At his next stop at Omi Adio, Opeifa inspected the facility being put in place to establish another cargo park at Omi Adio. He directed the acquisition of more land around the proposed dry port area to provide for anticipated business the dry port would be processing when the business finally comes on stream.

    Opeifa was joined on the inspection at the Ladoke Akintola Train Station, Omi Adio, by the Director General of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission) Dr. Seye Oyeleye, who expressed the readiness to work with the Corporation to reactivate the narrow gauges within some of the states in the Southwest for mass transportation.

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    The inspection took Opeifa and his management team to the Obafemi Awolowo Train Station, Moniya and the Moniya Cargo Park, where he inspected the readiness of the port to facilitate cargo business.

    He also inspected the Western District Headquarters at Dugbe, Ibadan, where he pledged the charged the workers to double their effort and improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the railway.

    “I can approve an improvement in your allowances once we improve our IGR. So let us be committed to doubling our efforts,” he said.

    Opeifa said the management is determined to recommence cargo commitment from Lagos to Kano, even as he said he would be at Ibadan to flag off the Dugbe end of the movement once the service begins.

    He also commended all railway women, urging them to continue to prove their mettle in keeping the wheel of the rail going.

    Addressing the welfare of pensioners, Opeifa assured that the corporation will continue to work at improving their welfare.

    “I don’t need to be told, I can feel so many things and I can only assure you that the management will continue to work at improving your living conditions,” he said.

    He reiterated his call for vandals to stop sabotaging the Corporation’s effort at improving its services.

    “Let me emphasize again that there are no scraps in the Nigerian Railway Corporation. All we have are rail materials. All our materials are in serviceable conditions. From here we are moving cement from Ewekoro to Osogbo and to Ilorin. All these wagons you see, all these rail sleepers, all these irons are still working and all security operatives have been directed to arrest and prosecute anyone caught vandalising our property. No one is permitted to carry our materials. No letter of approval is sufficient to allow anyone to do so, security operatives should put a call across to us to enable us authenticate such activity,” he said.

  • New railway masterplan to transform sector in five years

    New railway masterplan to transform sector in five years

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced a comprehensive reform plan aimed at transforming the country’s rail sector within the next five years, with a long-term vision of achieving global standards within this generation.

    Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, made this known during a meeting with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in Lagos.

    Opeifa stated that the current administration is committed to transforming the nation’s rail infrastructure under its Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He emphasised that the government is working on a comprehensive railway master plan, which is expected to be unveiled in April, to drive the development of a world-class rail system.

     “In the next five years, a lot of things will change in this country, and soon, Nigerians will be able to even enjoy a new generation rail system. In our generation, we shall be able to operate all modes of modern rail systems comparable to anywhere in the world,” Opeifa said.

    However, Opeifa lamented Nigeria’s sluggish railway progress, noting that while 3,500 kilometers of tracks were built in 60 years, expansion stalled for another six decades. He assured that the current administration is committed to reversing this through prioritised investments and accelerated execution.

    He commended Lagos State’s progress with the Red and Blue Line rail projects, highlighting the success of the Blue Line, which has been running on electric power for two years. He described it as proof that large-scale rail transformation is achievable in Nigeria and that other states should follow suit.

    He further disclosed that the corporation will focus on freight movement while collaborating with state governments to develop intra-city rail services.

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    According to him, the long-term vision is for all states to have functional rail systems operating round the clock to ease transportation challenges, boost economic growth, and reduce dependency on road transport.

    Initially N49.74 trillion was proposed for 2025 budget but N41.49 billion was allocated  to NRC-managed rail systems across the country.

    This covered the completion of the Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan rail lines, rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta rail, construction of 12 station buildings, procurement of rolling stock, and track-laying at railway ancillary facilities in Agbor.

    It also included funding for security upgrades, such as an acoustic surveillance system for the Abuja-Kaduna route, and feasibility studies for new standard gauge rail lines.

    The allocation of N146.14 billion in counterpart funding for the Lagos Green Line Metro Rail Project, a 68km network connecting the Lekki Free Zone to Marina, was also contained in the initial proposed budget.

    With the final approval of an increased budget of N54.99 trillion, some allocations in the budget proposal might increase. However, the extent of these adjustments remains unclear, as the updated breakdown has yet to be released to the public.

  • Good restart

    Good restart

    •The Lagos-Ibadan cargo train should hallmark cargo by rail to all parts of Nigeria

     Good news: the restart of the Lagos-Ibadan cargo service on February 10. In a well publicised event, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), with APM Terminals, relaunched that service. It takes cargo from the Apapa Ports to the dry port at Moniya, Ibadan. That service never should have been halted.

    The first trip, on that relaunched service, moved 35 containers — akin to removing 35 trailers from the road: with the cost of fuel, lubricants, tyre gauges, road degradation from heavy bulk, not to mention noise and environmental pollution, for 35 different articulated vehicles!

    That, in a nutshell, shows how valuable buzzing nationwide rail roads are: the Western network (with its emerging standard gauge); the Eastern network (with its revamped narrow gauge); and the promise of the new West-East line (the rail component of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road). Rail roads may well railroad sanity into the economy with more lasting roads.

    Add the standard-gauge central lines, the Ujevwu-Itakpe rail hub, which operates from the Abavo station, Agbor, deep in the South-South, into Kogi (in North Central), which spur could also connect the federal capital of Abuja, and everyone could see the value deepened rail could add.

    This is saying the trite: deeper rail linkages in the transport of cargo, across long distances within a vast country like Nigeria will, other things being equal, radically bring down cost and give inflation a bloody nose.

    That is the present allure of rail; and the

    regnant powers, federal and state, should tap into rail investments — a putative game-changer for an economy overheated by avoidable costs.

    Which is why this statement, from

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    Kayode Opeifa, the new NRC managing director, should be music to everyone’s ears: “We are committed to ensuring that the movement of goods, from say Lagos to the Kaduna Dry Port, in Kaduna, is achieved by the second quarter of the year.”

    But Dr. Opeifa wasn’t quite done, espousing his dream NRC, now that he drives it: “We are determined, just like we promised Niger Foods and the Niger Government, that we will do everything possible to get cargo from Niger, Mokwa, Jebba, and wherever their Inland Dry Port is situated. Also,” he added, “we are committed to ensuring that people from Kaduna and Kano can move goods, particularly for exports.”

    Dr. Opeifa has packed a reputation as a committed and passionate public official, right from his time as Lagos transport commissioner, chair of the federal task force to drive chaos off Tin-Can Ports, Apapa, Lagos, and his stint at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) service in Abuja.

    It’s good that the new NRC MD also revealed how his corporation was tackling part of its rolling stock challenges: an NRC subsidiary already assembles wagons at Kajola, Ogun State, off the Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge line. That facility, you would recall, was the Chinese rail contractors’ gift to Nigeria, to feed the entire West Africa in wagon supply.

    Still, how can the NRC fulfil its pledge to, by June ending, drive cargo by rail from Lagos to Kaduna and vice-versa, when the Lagos-Ibadan standard-gauge rail is yet to be linked to Abuja, as part of the Lagos-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano modernised rail?

    If the NRC is thinking of maximising activity on the old narrow-gauge western network, that would be fine too. Moving heavy bulk on those old rail lines is still better than moving them on the roads, and thus shortening their life spans, with wear and tear.

    So, the NRC ambition should draw fresh attention to extending the Lagos-Kano rail from Ibadan, thus duplicating activities as reported on the Kaduna-Kano segment of the same corridor.

    Completing the entire Lagos-Kano stretch is the best way to complement the new NRC dreams. It’s a win-win: more business and revenue for NRC; lower cost for the economy.

    Clearly, the future is rail. So, the Federal Government should double efforts to tap into funding for these critical rail infrastructure. It’s time to counter, with a greater zeal, the culpable neglect of this critical corridor, during the military years.

  • Tinubu’s reforms yielding positive results, says Alkali

    Tinubu’s reforms yielding positive results, says Alkali

    The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, speaks on efforts by President Bola Tinubu and why Nigerians should support the reforms of the administration. Excerpts:

    One, the mandate of the ministry is land transport, and we have some parastatals under the ministry. We have the Federal University of Transportation in Daura. We have the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). We have the Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria. And then the main ministry.

    The ministry is to oversight all the parastatals under it. And let me start with the university. First and foremost, when I took over as a minister, I went around to see by myself because seeing is believing.

    So, I said, let me see where we are and where we need to be. I was in Daura for the inspection of the Federal University of Transportation. The university came into being as a corporate social responsibility by one of our contractors, CCECC.

    The university bill was passed into law, and the law was assented by the former president. At the time I took over, it was only the vice chancellor that was appointed.

    But when I went there, I saw a very beautiful edifice that I felt time was of the essence, and we needed to put the structure into use. So, I approached the National Universities Commission (NUC) to appoint a mentor university.

    They appointed Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, because I’m sure you are aware that for a university to take off, at least we need four principal officers. We need the vice chancellor, the registrar, the bursar, and the librarian. So, with ABU, we had the registrar. We had the bursar and the librarian.

    So, we started, but then the university was not captured in the appropriation estimate of 2023. And we needed funding for the take-off.

    So we came back to the ministry, and we approached CCECC to raise some funds for us. Having done that, we started outsourcing lecturers on visit. When they constructed the university, we designated a hostel for the visiting lecturers so that they would not have accommodation issues.

    So, we started with the visiting lecturers. Then , we approached the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as to how to get the students admitted into the university. Then, the portal for fresh admission was closed.

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    We came through ‘Change of Institution’. Graciously, we got over 500 students who applied. After screening them, those who qualified were admitted. Then they started the lectures. Thereafter, we approached Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) for their intervention. When we went, I met the Chief Executive myself.

    They gave us a checklist. Fortunately, the university was able to qualify in all the checklists. The university was enlisted for Tetfund intervention against 2025.

    Graciously, Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, later approved for the enlistment of the university in the 2024 capital budget of the country. So we started. So far, the students are matriculated. As we speak, we have already finished part one. So we were able to achieve this barely in one year. So this is how far we have gone with the university.

    Coming back to the Nigerian Railway Corporation, I visited all the projects. So I went to see Mr. President to give him a brief of the activities of the ministry. He had directed me to continue with all the ongoing projects under the railway modernisation.

    I inspected Lagos to Abuja; Abuja to Kaduna; Kaduna to Kano, and Kano to Maradi. Before I became minister, already Lagos to Ibadan had been put into use for train service. So you see this railway, the economic viability that we have is in freight.

    I got back to the railway and saw how we could start freight. We have two rail lines inside the APMT terminal in Apapa. We have the standard gauge and the narrow gauge. We started the freight on the standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan. Then we started rehabilitating the old narrow gauge because there was some wash-away along Baro in Niger State. After the rehabilitation was done, we were able to commence freight from Lagos to Kano, so they will be able to put Kano inland dry port into use.

    I’m sure by that, it is going to boost the economic activities and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country. So we now came back again to see how we can continue moving the project from Ibadan to Abuja.

    Because Abuja to Kaduna is put into use. So you can see there is a gap between Lagos and Abuja. Mr. President directed the vice president to lead us to the Belt & Road Forum Initiative (BRFI) conference in Beijing.

    The Vice President was granted to have a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. So, he made that case on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Graciously, the President of China has intervened. As we speak, we are able to raise the funding. We are just about to get the first drawdown so that we are going to fix Ibadan, Kaduna, to Abuja. We still have a gap of Ibadan to Abuja.

    When Mr. President went himself for the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and he made a case for Ibadan to Abuja. The President of China graciously promised to intervene in raising the financing of Ibadan to Abuja. So that by so doing, you will be able to connect Lagos to Abuja, Abuja to Kaduna and Kaduna to Kano.

    We still have Kano to Maradi, but it was awarded to a different contractor. I went to Kano to Maradi to see by myself. But the project is still ongoing.

    In fact, in the last one year that I was here as a minister, I visited the project three times. They have done the earthwork and a lot of culverts. They gave us commitment that they are going to fix Kano to Kaduna and a branch line to Dutse by next year. That is how far we have gone on Lagos to Abuja, Abuja to Kaduna, Kaduna to Kano and Kano to Maradi, respectively.

    Are you impressed with the level of work done so far?

    Yes, I am impressed. In fact, it is not long since I was there, even with the members of the National Assembly, because of the powers conferred on them to oversight all ministries, departments, and agencies.

    I am also impressed they have addressed the media after the inspection. We also have the Eastern narrow gauge. That one is to cover from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. It transverses about five geopolitical zones. Port Harcourt is in South-South, Aba is in Southeast, Kaduna is in Northwest, and then the one in North-Central and North-East. At the time I took over, the project was just at the outskirts of Port Harcourt.

    I had to mount pressure on the contractor at least to see how we can fix Port Harcourt to Aba so that we will be able to start the train service. And I am sure if you have been to Port Harcourt recently, you can see how bad the road from Port Harcourt to Aba is. So we are able to fix Port Harcourt to Aba for train service.

    We now came back to see how we can now continue with the project to fix Port Harcourt to Onne, and Port Harcourt to Port Harcourt Port, so that we will be able to start freight from Onne to Aba. At least Aba is one of the viable commercial cities in the Southeast so that we will start freight. This is how far we have gone with the railway.

    Recently, an investor approached the ministry to see how we can start retrofitting our locomotives. You know you cannot do conversion with high-level engines like cars and generators. The only way we will be able to save cost, especially with the withdrawal of subsidy, is to start retrofitting the locomotive.

    We have successfully retrofitted one locomotive, partly diesel, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), about 80 per cent is LNG, while the 20 per cent is diesel. By that, you will be able to save a lot of cost.

    In fact, we have reached a milestone with the investor so that he will bring some locomotives and some wagons so that he will start freight in some of the corridors. That one, too, has reached an advanced stage. This is how far we have gone with the railway.

    Coming back to the NITT in Zaria, we have started conversion centres. We have one centre in Zaria. We have another one in Abuja here. We are about to commence the one in Enugu and Lagos very soon. By the grace of God, what we want to achieve is to have the conversion centres in all the 36 states of the Federation.

    Which of these feats do you think could enhance the prospects of the ministry in terms of visibility and contributions to the nation’s economic development?

    Of course, it has to be all of them because each of the parastatals has its mandate. As I have briefed you, each of the mandates has its own impact on the economic growth and development of the country.

    What special role did you play towards the much publicised visibility of the university in Zaria?

    Of course, I have told you. This is the role I have played because I have a responsibility as a minister oversighting the university. The university is under our own supervision. The enlistment of the TetFund, the admission, the appointment of the mentor  University, how to outsource lecturers on visiting – all this was done under my watch.

    What effort is the ministry of transport undertaking to address the multiplier effects of the removal of subsidy on petroleum producers, especially in the transport sector, which is considered a strong pillar of the economy?

    With the Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria, I told you we have started the conversion. We have one centre in Zaria. We have another one in Abuja. And very soon, the one of Enugu and Lagos will be put into use. Gradually, of course, the journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step. As we are making progress, we intend to cover all the states of the federation.

    By the time you are able to achieve the conversion, I am sure if you have a car, the cost you are going to spend to refill the cylinder and the distance the cylinder is going to cover, you have about 300 per cent to 400 per cent savings compared to petrol or diesel.

     What role does the ministry play in sustaining smooth industrial relations in the rail sector and the main relations among various trade unions and associations providing transport services in the sector?

    The ministry has a role here because we are coordinating the railway sector, the transport sector. In fact, as we speak, we have approached Mr. President for an intervention in the infrastructure, even on the road.

    He has graciously approved for the construction of port terminals, one in each geopolitical zone. He has directed the Ministry of Transportation to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to continue funding the terminals through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). After constructing the terminals, he also directed us to concession the terminals for long-term viability.

    On the railway as well, the ministry is having synergy with the National Assembly to see how we can unbundle the railway. By the time you repeal and enact the Railway Act, it allows private sector participation. For instance, now, if the private sector can come and invest in the sector, you bring your coaches, you bring your locomotive, and you bring your wagons.

    Then we concession a corridor for you, so that you start freight, you start train service. Also, the ministry has developed a land transport policy. We don’t have a land transport policy in the country.

    We were in Abeokuta for the annual conference. We presented the draft report before all the stakeholders so that they would make their input. In fact, by the grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to take the report to the council for approval.

    How are you trying to synergise with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy?

     It doesn’t have to do with marine and blue economy, because it’s a land transport policy.

    I am talking about synergising  in terms of transportation generally, from rail to water to air.

    That is why we are very, very categorical that the policy is land transport policy, not transport policy. Assuming we said it’s a transportation policy, then it affects both land and water. But this one is very specific, national land tra nsport policy.

    Are the agencies under your ministry really delivering the presidential priorities?

    Of course they are. All these I have mentioned are in the priority list of Mr. President. The conversion centres, the takeover of the university, the freight service, the rail service, all these are his priorities. Because even the primary responsibility of government, welfare is one of them.

    What key challenges did you encounter when you took office?

    The key challenge is with the financing because this project was predicated on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction and Financing (EPC+F) model. The federal government is to raise 15 per cent through appropriation, which Mr. President has done. But it’s still difficult for the contractors to raise the financing. But we are on top of the situation gradually.

    But there is  the assumption that the transport ministry has a lot of money. So how come you have financing challenges?

    It’s a contract. When a contract is predicated on EPC+F, the country is governed by rule of law, the government has done its own part to through appropriation. The contractor is expected to go and raise the financing on behalf of the federal government. It’s already a contractual agreement, and you have to abide by it.

    Lately, there have been incidences of rail derailment in some parts of the country. Are you worried, and what are you doing in that respect?

    Of course, I should be worried as a minister. Some of them are human error, and some of them are technical. But when the incidences started, I called the Managing Director of the Railway and all the team of its engineers. And we have done a lot of things there, but because it’s a security issue, it’s not something I can mention here.

    There’s this whole noise about Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) now. The ministry of transport is rarely mentioned in most of their events. What role are you playing because the government has so invested in this CNG thing. What part are you playing? Are you involved at all?

    Of course I should be, as a minister of transportation, it is to have a synergy between the ministry and the presidential committee. Not only that, I told you, even our parastatal in the ministry, we have started the conversion from diesel to CNG, or petroleum to CNG.

    What’s that parastatal called?

    The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology. A lot of federal government agencies have brought their cars, and we have done the conversion. The Nigerian army has brought their patrol vehicles, and the institute has done the conversion because they have a conversion centre here in Abuja, from petrol to diesel. And when you are in a difficult terrain, you revert  to your petrol and keep moving

    The Warri-Itakpe rail line is in a mess right now. At a point, they had at least 10 coaches on that line. Now they have two. This is causing a lot of hardship for travelers. Many people now stand throughout, and others buy tickets at higher prices.

    You have to access your ticket online. Do you understand? So, you go online, and you obtain your ticket. Then why will you allow somebody to collect extra from you? That is not allowed. These are some of the things that encourage public officers. It’s not allowed.

    People stay awake all night just to buy tickets, but they say it doesn’t work

    You see, let me tell you something that you didn’t know. How much does it cost to buy one litre of diesel? What is the cost? How much is the diesel consumption of one locomotive? What I’m trying to tell you is that the money you are paying for the ticket, NRC doesn’t recover the cost of the diesel. So, it is the government that provides subsidies there for you to get the ticket at N5,000.

    If I may ask you, if you are coming by road, how much do you pay? Now you are paying N5,000 here. So, you can see what the federal government has done for you.

    Is it possible for the federal government to raise the price of tickets, at least to recover costs, because most of the coaches are broken down?

    That is why we are trying to bring private investors. So that by the time they come and put in their investment, they will bring more coaches and more locomotives. But as we speak, if we raise the money, it’s another trouble.

    You will be the first person to say the federal government has increased the price of the railway ticket. You will be the first person to make the complaint. So, you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, which is very difficult to operate.

    But is it not better than having broken down coaches?

    Probably you said that because you will be able to afford the N10,000. And a lot of people may not afford the 10,000. So, we are trying to be too considerate. Because the government is mindful of the hardship. We are trying to see how we will make some little palliatives.

    Maybe if you remember, like December last year, the president provided palliatives for free train rides across all the corridors. During Christmas and up to New Year and this was to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of the subsidy.It’s a primary responsibility of government to provide welfare.

    Lastly, what role or to what extent do you think your ministry is pivotal to the failure or success of the present administration?

    You see, transportation is one of the key priority areas of this administration. That is why since I took over, I am always on the move to see how we will be able to meet up to his priorities. So, we are up and doing. And we will continue to do the best we can do.

  • Train derailment delays Lagos-Oshogbo bound free train ride

    A train derailment at the exit point of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), lddo Terminus, Lagos, delayed a 10.00am Lagos- Oshogbo bound free train service offered by the Osun state government.

    The delay was caused by a train shunting with a Lagos-Kano bound train which was to leave lddo by 12 noon on Friday.

    The Lagos-Oshogbo bound free train service which was to depart by 10.00am went to shunt, “overtake” ,the Lagos-Kano bound one but derailed in the process.

    The Lagos District Superintendent (DS) of NRC, Mr. Christian Mazda, confirmed the derailment, saying the corporation was on top of the situation.

    .”As you can see, we are on top of it and very soon the train will depart to Osogbo.

    “We are working hard to ensure the restoration of the line to allow the two trains to depart.

    “The incidents happened at 9:45am and very soon they will embark on its journey,” he told NAN.

    According to him, there will be stops to pick passengers at Agege, Agbado, ljoko, Kajola and Abeokuta and other areas are Erumu, Iwo, Ede and Oshogbo.

    Read Also: Train crushes two to death in Kano

    Mr Sunday Oyelowo, a Civil Servant, told NAN that he was excited that the new administration in Osun continued with the gesture of free train rides during major celebrations.

    Oyelowo said the railway officials had assured the travellers that the derailed train would be restored to its tracks for people to commence their trips for the Easter festival.

    Mrs. Tomilola Adebayo, another traveller, told NAN that the early slit derailment would not hinder her journey as the NRC officials had given assurance of restoration.

    “We have been told that the derailed train will be restored very soon that’s why we are here and happy to start the journey,” she said.

    The incident was sorted and the Lagos-Oshogbo bound free train ride eventually moved at about 12.35pm on Friday.

    NAN