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Tag: Nigerian Railway Corporation

  • Iloanusi is NRC’s acting MD as Okhiria bows out

    Iloanusi is NRC’s acting MD as Okhiria bows out

    A former Director of Procurement at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Ben Iloanusi, has taken over as the acting Managing Director of the corporation.

    This followed the completion of the two-term tenure of former MD Fidet Okhiria.

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    The change of guards was announced in a statement by the corporation’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Yakub Mahmood.

    Iloanusi is the oldest director in active service, having joined the NRC in 2011 and became director in 2019.

  • Reps to NRC: employ more female engineers

    Reps to NRC: employ more female engineers

    The House of Representatives has advised the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to consider employing more female engineers to foster workplace inclusiveness.

    The chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onyeche Onuh, made this recommendation during the committee’s oversight tour of railway facilities along the Lagos corridor.

    Onuh, daughter of the seventh Assembly Senate President, Senator David Mark, who represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, said the employment of women engineers would give the nation’s oldest public corporation the needed public image as a truly inclusive workplace.

    Onuh was accompanied by committee members, including Hon. Afolabi Afuwape (Abeokuta South Federal Constituency) and Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, former Lagos Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, among others.

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    The lawmakers began their tour at the NRC’s running shed, where they observed how the corporation’s rolling stock is maintained and kept functional.

    The trip also took them through the Alex Ekwueme Tower, the control room of the standard gauge as well as the Mobolabi Johnson mega station, Yaba, where they boarded the standard gauge to the Kajola Assembly Plant.

    The tour also took them to Papalanto in Ogun state.

  • ‘Lagos Ibadan standard gauge ready in Feb’

    A test run of the 45km Lagos Abeokuta standard gauge from in Iju, Lagos and terminate in Abeokuta will begin by February, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation Mr Fidet Okhiria said on Wednesday.

    Speaking at Ijoko, Ogun State during the routine inspection of the $1.7 billion project, Okhiria who represented the Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said by February 6, the corporation will begin a test run of the tracks.

    He said the first phase of the project, which is to link Lagos with Abeokuta by rail, is on course, adding the federal government will first deliver on it while work progresses on linking Abeokuta with Ibadan, thereby completing the Lot II of the Lagos to Kano standard gauge project.

    He said the contractor – China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation- has fully laid 38 kilometers of tracks from Kajola (km 41 to Abeokuta, km 79) while efforts to get the project from Kajola to Iju, is on course and would be achieved by February.

    According to him: “The contractors have said their equipment could lay 1.5 kilometres of tracks per day. That means that they could achieve the 10km distance between Kajola and Iju within seven days and we can start the test run of the tracks latest February 7.”

    He expressed satisfaction at the speed of the contractor, adding with the civil works between Kajola and Iju completed, work could go on unhindered on the laying of tracks.

    Okhiria, who led the media and other members of the project monitoring committee to ride on first class train coaches on the tracks between Kajola and Abeokuta, expressed satisfaction on the pace of the project.

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    He said two first class full air-conditioned coaches have been drawn from the Itakpe-Warri standard gauge corridor to service the new rail line.

    According to him, with a speed of 150 km/h, Lagos-Ibadan could be achieved within one hour, adding that such would have a tremendous impact on housing stock and congestion witnessed in the nation’s urban centres.

    Okhiria said the federal government has placed order for 30 locomotives and coaches and wagons to further boost modernisation of the fixed and rolling stocks of the railway corporation.

    He also praised the transparency of the compensation plans of the government which according to him has ensured the peaceful environment within which the contractor has been operating.

  • Amaechi reiterates commitment to Lagos-Ibadan rail project

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has pledged to ensure the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project in honour of the late Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Usman Abubakar.

    He stated this on Monday in Kaduna during a condolence visit to the family of late Abubakar who died Oct. 11 at the age of 68 after a brief illness in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Abubakar was appointed Sept. 27, 2016 as the Chairman of NRC board.

    The minister, during the visit said that the Lagos-Ibadan rail project was a pet project of the deceased stating that it was his wish for the project to be completed.

    He said that the deceased was the chairman of the technical committee, adding that he always ensures that every complaint on the project was resolved.

    Amaechi said that Abubakar was committed to the project and was always present at all the monthly inspection carried out by the ministry.

    “We were working too closely that I gave him part of my responsibility at the railway project, part of the responsibility was the chairman of the technical committee and he solved a lot of our technical problems.

    “We are already feeling his absent a lot because at the end of the day when we ran into such problems again, I will say if chairman was here now, it would have being resolved.

    “We find it very difficult but one thing we owe him is to ensure that we complete the Lagos-Ibadan railway, which was his pet project, he dreamt of that project, stayed in Lagos and came for all inspections.

    “He said to me, that whatever it will take to make us deliver this project to make Nigerians happy, he was willing to participate.

    ”His death came as a shock because I never knew he was sick,” the Minister said.

    Speaking, the deceased son, Mohammed Abubakar, described his father as a man of integrity and a strong loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “My father was a simple man of great integrity and a staunch loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari. He always valued education more than anything.

    “He would always tell his children that, he would not bequeath us with money when he died and that the only thing he could do was to make sure we had quality education.

    “He lived a very simple life so much that people barely knew him as the Chairman of NRC. He never wanted the attention, glitz and glamour that came with the office,” he said.

    He thanked the minister and the delegation from the Federal Ministry of Transportation for the visit. (NAN)

  • NRC set to commence e-Ticketing on narrow, standard gauge routes

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, will by September commence e-ticketing for passengers wishing to enjoy its services across the country, the Managing Director of the Corporation Fidet Okhiria has said.

    Disclosing this during a chat reporters in his office, Okhiria said the project which would take off  on its Abuja-Kaduna route, would later be introduced on its two major narrow gauge routes of Lagos-Kano which is the western line, and the Eastern line between Port-Harcourt to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

    To make this come to fruition, the Managing Director of the Corporation Engr. Fidet Okhiria said nine companies have been shortlisted and are currently bidding to provide the service.

    He noted that with this development prospective customers can book on line, for tickets to enjoy train services, adding that the tender was signed yesterday before all the bidders at Headquarters of the Corporation at Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

    Some of the companies that bid according to Okhiria are: Turn Around Engineering Limited, Secure ID Limited, Catamaran Nig Ltd, Soft Alliance and Resources Ltd, Nexant/Innovea Hub, and Backbone Connectivity Network Nig Ltd.

    Others are; Focal point Integrated Services Limited, Euphoria Press Limited and First Index Project and Services Limited.

    He said the corporation is determined to ensure that any firm contracted to provide the service had the capacity to deliver cutting edge services that are peculiar to the railway environment.

    Read Also: NRC to pull down more houses for modern train stations

    “Unlike what you have in the air transport business where ticketing is usually from one point to the other, in railway, you may have five to 10 stations in between two major destinations and those dropping off at those stations must be adjudged to have paid a fare that is commensurate to the journey made.”

    Speaking on the long abandoned Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Warri Standard Gauge railway line, Okhiria said a test run will commence next week preparatory to full commencement of full train service along the corridor.

    The Nation had recalled that the Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi had disclosed that that the corridor would be opened last month, a development which wasn’t realised.

    He said though work is still ongoing on some of the railway stations along the corridor, this, according to him, would not prevent the commencement of commercial operation on the line as it has been in the limbo for far too long.

    He disclosed that the test run would determine the reliability and integrity of the line.

  • Union condemns planned NRC concession

    The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) has faulted the Federal Government’s  plan to concession the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    Its President-General, Comrade Mohammed Yunusa, said the planned concession would lead to workers losing their jobs. He noted that the workers contributed immensely to the glorious performance of the rail sector, until it had problems in 1984, due to successive administrations’ failures to manage it well.

    He said: “Nobody should attempt to discredit staff of the NRC just because of the failure of successive governments and its managers in NRC. To this end, we make bold to say that we shall resist any form of reform aimed at discrediting and sending staff of NRC into the labour market, under whatever guise be it concession, franchising or public private partnership.”

    Yunusa said the union, with its large membership, would resist any concessioning that would lead to job loss either in the Nigerian Railway Corporation or any or other public corporation in Nigeria.

    “The government has business in business, especially when it is social-oriented and, therefore, the government should situp with SSASCGOC and its allies so that we can come up with workable solutions for the rail to roll into glory,” he said.

  • NRC to pull down more houses for modern train stations

    NRC to pull down more houses for modern train stations

    Houses pencilled down for demolition between Ebute Metta to Agege for the expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Standard gauge line would be pulled down anytime soon,  investigation has revealed.

    It was gathered that about 150 houses occupied by staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), are also affected by the impending exercise. This also includes the railway district headquarters at Ebute Metta, in the Yaba area of Lagos.

    Between Ebute Metta and Agege no fewer than 200 houses occupying the right of way of the new rail line are being pulled down. At the district head office, an international train station is coming to replace the decrepit structure being presently used as the district head office. Similar ultra modern stations are being pencilled down for Oshodi, Ikeja, Agege, Agbado and Ijoko stations, where the decrepit structures housing the narrow gauge train stations had once stood.

    It was gathered that some Agege residents gathered on Thursday to discuss the impending demolition.

    The proposed Agege rail station it was gathered is a mere 20 metres away from the ongoing Agege Flyover Bridge, being constructed by the Lagos State Government.

    A very reliable source at the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s Headquarters in Oyingbo, who does not want to be mentioned, said already, NRC workers affected by the exercise have been given a three months deadline to relocate in order not to affect the contractor’s work flow.

    Also, the Federal Ministry of Transportation is said to be paying full compensation to owners of all affected structures along the project’s right of way, in order to reduce the pains of those whose only source of livelihood are being affected in the exercise.

    “The Federal Government has ensured that full compensation was paid directly to those whose houses were being pulled down. This is to reduce the pain and assuage for the loss of their sources of livelihood, while staffs affected by the demolition have been told to look out for alternative accommodations,” the source said.

    The source added that Nigerians would come to appreciate the beautiful stations that would replace these old edifices once they spring up at the designated railway stations.

    The source also spoke about the influx of illegal traders on the rail tracks at Oyingbo, following their eviction from the market by the state government.

    “Now, the NRC is at a dilemma whether to chase these illegal squatters away from the rail lines, which they presently occupy knowing that their trading activity puts food on their table on a daily basis around that axis.

    “If we chase them away, just like the Lagos State Government did, would it not be seen as an act of wickedness? Yet, we must ensure they do not encroach on the rail tracks as that is a highway to suicide,” he further added.

     

  • Osun free train ride: Hundreds of passengers stranded at Lagos terminal

    Osun free train ride: Hundreds of passengers stranded at Lagos terminal

    Hundreds of Osun-bound passengers, who had massed at the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Iddo Terminal in Lagos for the free train ride provided by Osun Government for Eid-el-Kabir, were on Thursday stranded.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the huge number of passengers who turned out for the ride outstripped the available coaches.

    The free train ride is a collaboration between Gov. Rauf Aregbesola-led government and the NRC to convey Osun indigenes in Lagos to Osogbo and other towns along the rail line during festive period.

    Some of the stranded passengers, who spoke to NAN correspondent, were pained for not making the trip, but they commended the governor’s gesture.

    They pleaded with the government to provide more coaches or extend the days allotted for the exercise to enable intending travellers to enjoy the free ride.

    Mr Saliu Ademola, an artisan, told NAN:“I was shocked when I got to the terminal to see the crowd.

    “The NRC should increase the number of coaches to enable the passengers to enjoy the train services.”

    A disappointed Mrs Taibat Lawal, said in spite of her early arrival at the terminal in the morning, she was not lucky to be on board.

    Contacted, Mr Jerry Oche, the Lagos District Manager, lauded the free train ride provided by Osun and called for more coaches so that more people could benefit.

    He advised stranded passengers to join the Kano-bound train tomorrow en route to Osogbo.

    NAN also reports that the normal fare per passenger for Lagos-Osogbo trip by train is N1,500.

  • Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail will create additional 7000 jobs – Ashafa

    Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail will create additional 7000 jobs – Ashafa

    Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport has said that the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Railway line would create additional 7000 jobs for the teeming youths.

    Ashafa said on Monday during the oversight visit paid to the Nigerian Railway Corporation NRC by both Committee on Land Transport and the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.

    “We are confident that the Lagos to Kano and Calabar to Lagos railway modernisation projects would in no small way reinvigorate Nigeria’s economy through creation of about 7000 jobs.

    “On our part as senators holding the mandate of our constituents, we are totally committed to  assisting the executive arm in the actualisation of every developmental project within our purview,” Ashafa said.

    The senator said that the visit was to assist the committee on Local and Foreign Debt assess the project implementation plan for the recently approved loan request by the Federal Government from the China Exim Bank.

    According to him, the loan is to be accessed for the purpose of completing various railway rehabilitation and construction projects across  the country.

    “The focus of this visit is to immediately set in perspective of our commitment to ensuring a high level of accountability in public expenditure.

    “As such, the bulk of this joint committee’s work lies particularly in the areas that concern activities of the Ministry of Transport and all relevant stakeholders in the expenditure of the loan.

    “As requested, the sum of 5.851 billion dollars being the total approved loan would be expended on modernisation of Lagos to Kano, Lagos to Ibadan and Calabar to Lagos segments,” he said.

    Sen. Shehu Sani, Chairman committee on local and foreign debts in his contribution said that both committee were signals to the seriousness attached to the commencement and successful completion of the rail projects.

    Sani said that the  project was in the 2016-2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) plan recently approved by the senate.

    According to him, the potential of the rail projects was to fast track the nation’s economic growth, provision of gainful employment to teeming youths and overall development of the country.

    “The senate while approving the borrowing plan as it concerns the rail mandated its relevant committees to ensure a thorough oversight of the actual implementation of the projects for which the country was borrowing.

    “Obviously, this is to guarantee effective and efficient utilisation of every kobo taken as loan by the federal government on behalf of Nigerian citizens.

    “Therefore, this visit is one step in the fulfilment of that mandate and the public trust we owe Nigerian citizens,” he said.

    Mr Leo Yin, the Project Cordinator, Chinese Civil Engineer Construction Company (CCECC), said the major challenge facing the project presently was the recent continuous rainfall.

    Yin said that plans have been put in place by the company to deliver and hand over the project at the appointed time.

    He however, appealed to the communities in the affected areas to cooperate witwith the workers for speedy execution of the project.

    NAN reports that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Ameachi, had said that Federal Government would ensure the completion of the ongoing Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail services by Dec. 2018.

    Ameachi gave the assurance on Monday July 10, in Lagos while inspecting the ongoing rail projects at Ijoko community area of Ogun State.

    The minister said that the Federal Government was making all efforts to ensure the completion of the project as scheduled.

  • Railway: We always prevent accidents during rainy season

    Railway: We always prevent accidents during rainy season

    The Lagos District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Jerry Oche, said on Tuesday that proactive measures had been put in place to prevent accidents on rail tracks during the rainy season.

    Oche disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He also said that new strategies had been evolved by the Lagos District of the NRC to prevent accidents across various rail lines and level crossings in the district.

    “We are being proactive in preventing accidents during the rainy season.

    From experience, we discovered that accidents are usually on the increase during the rainy season. We have embarked on a new programme now to replace the quality of timber at level crossings, with newer sets.

    “At any point at level crossings, we have timber and you know whether the timbers is treated or not, it gets weakened after some time. So, what we are doing now is to be proactive and make effective changes and replacements across the rail lines, from-time-to-time’’ he said.

    Oche said there must be regular replacements of timber at some level crossings within the state, to prevent accidents.

    NAN reports that Mr Fidet Okhiria, the NRC Managing Director, had earlier said that the corporation was set to complete the repair of the damaged rail bridge at Tatalabu Village, on the Jebba-Mokwa rail line, within the next two weeks.

    Okhiria said that the bridge, damaged by heavy downpour between Jebba and Mokwa, had affected the movement of train services from Lagos to Kano since June 6.