The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NRC

  • NRC and passengers safety

    NRC and passengers safety

    SIR: It is no longer news that the Nigerian Railway Corporation has been making claims on the improvement of its services especially on its Iddo/Ijoko passengers’ movements on daily basis. In as much as it is true that the number of trips on this route have increased tremendously in the last few months, what the Corporation fails to tell the world is the unpleasant condition in which the passengers are made to bear on such journeys.

    It is regrettable that a corporation that is a parastatal of government and saddled with the duty of transporting people has continued to contribute to the discomfort of its passengers. These are in view of the fact that most of the coaches have no light, fans are not available in most cases, and where available at all, not functioning. The few (may be one in a coach) that works are mostly switched off at will.

    It is a regular occurrence to see people fainting and collapsing as a result of the extreme heat that passengers are daily exposed to. It is absurd to mention here that most of the Stations where passengers wait to buy tickets/board are dirty, unsecured and are without any comfort from weather elements such as rain and sun. You hardly find seats to sit on while waiting for the trains.

    As usual in our environment, some “yes sir” NRC officials might call this letter a sponsored one to tarnish the image of the corporation, but I made bold to say that any willing member of the society can come on board any day on such trips commencing from 6.20am, 7.00am from Ijoko, and then, 5.40pm trip from Apapa and 6.30pm and 7.15pm trips from Iddo especially to witness my points here. Nigerians are being loaded like animals in cages without adequate ventilation, and NRC is not bothered as they continue to sell their tickets to make money daily. They are delighted in using the Police to harass any dissenting voice wanting to challenge their cruelty and insensitivities.

    As a matter of top priority, NRC must ensure that all electrical fittings in the coaches are put in shape with functional bulbs/fluorescents and fans. It must ensure that the fans are put on whenever passengers are on board. To eliminate the incidents of people fainting due to suffocation arising from rowdiness, additional coaches should be added to each trip to reduce the numbers of standing passengers.

    As it were at the moment, the reality on Iddo-Ijoko Passengers Train rides is that of a hell. The Managing Director of NRC,Engr. Adeseye Sijuwade must see to it that sanity, security and comfort of passengers are ensured and sustained now without further delay and laxity.

    • Tunde Jacobs

    10, Oseni Street,

    Delman Bus-stop, Ijoko-Lemode

     

  • NRC goes after unruly passengers

    NRC goes after unruly passengers

    The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has unveiled plans to curb unpleasant behaviour among passengers on its inter-city trains, particularly in the Lagos area.

    Under the plan, announced by the Managing Director, Adeseyi Sijuwade, the corporation will combine punitive measures with moral suasion and public enlightenment.

    Sijuwade, who announced this in Lagos at the corporation’s Ebute Metta Junction (EBJ) terminus, while addressing passengers waiting to board the evening train to Ijoko, Ogun State, said the new measures would complement existing ones.

    “We are getting worried about the habit of some people, who instead of making a choice to travel in any of our afternoon and evening trains, and in our passenger compartments, choose to travel on specific trains, on our coach rooftops and on train engine running boards.

    “We have in the past given out stern warnings to them to desist from such acts. We have previously erected barriers over the track, leaving only a slim clearance over the trains; run jingles on the radio against these acts. We have equally put up notices for fines and or prosecution of those caught,” he said.

    Sijuwade observed that despite the corporation’s efforts, the unwholesome acts have persisted, adding that the NRC will henceforth emphasise punitive measures, with the assistance from men of the Railway Police Command. This, he said, will be complemented with enhanced education.

    “Our message today is to make one last appeal to these people. If you know them or if you can reach them, or if you can send word to them, please help us in this regard. We have increased the level of our policing and monitoring.

    “We will not only be physically prevent them from doing that,we will arrest anybody, who attempts to do that and the full weight of the law will apply. We cannot go above the law.

    “What we can do is to leave it in the hands of the law enforcers. In the next few days, you will witness very intense raiding operations to be directed by the Commissioner of Police, the Railway Command.  Those arrested will be subjected to prosecution as required by the law. And their fate will be decided by the court,” Sijuwade said.

    He said his corporation will continue to sensitize its customers in an effort to  reduce the growing of  accidents on level crossing in city centres.

    “What we are experiencing is a consequence of the long years of suspension of train services in the country. Things are getting better now. Train frequency is increasing. The number of passengers that we have to contend with is also increasing number of passengers.

    “Unfortunately a lot of the commuters are not fully conversant with the frequency of our services and traffic measures. For instance, we have level-crossing barriers, but we have people crashing into these barriers.

    “What we are doing is to continue to repair these barriers and ensure the level-crossing are manned not only by staff, who will not only control traffic, but also pull the barriers down when trains are approaching.

    “We are also coming up with more road signs for pedestrians and vehicle and improve on our awareness and campaign efforts to reduce accident cases,” he said.

    Sijuwade condemned the reported practice where some passengers reserve seats at the detriment of others. He assured of plans to provide modern and comfortable coaches for the corporation’s customers. This he said will be done with the on-going mass refurbishment of old coaches nationwide and the planned importation of more.

    He also disclosed plans by the corporation to extend its passenger services to cover areas currently being affected by flooding, to ease their transportation problem.

    Sijuade attributed the delay in the commencement of the Lagos to Kano train services to the ongoing repair works on Bride 73, a bridge located about 8 km South of the corporation’s Minna station.

    “It is true that as far back as July this year, we did say we were ready to extend our services from Ilorin (Kwara State) all the way to Kano. But unfortunately, having repaired the Akere Bridge (in Niger State) which had been very problematic for years and it was fit for usage, we now again, had challenges with another bridge.

    “This is as a result of the heavy rains we have had in recent time, which has worsened the situation. Since we do not want to compromise safety, we have had to put all further repair works on the bridge on hold pending the end of the raining period to enable us give it the attention it required.

    “We are as we speak, planning to extend our services from Ilorin to Zugeru, near Minna. This is intended to alleviate the suffering currently being experienced by the commuting public on that corridor. We believe by extending our services across the River Niger, those affected by the current wave of flooding will be assisted.