*As FG set to unveil strategic infrastructural development plans on railway
*To support all states to develop intra-city rail networks
*Plateau, Niger, Bauchi, Ogun set to join Lagos as train-friendly states
*Inland Container seeks partnership with NRC to move more containers to the North
WorldStage Newsonline– Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced plans to operate new generation train systems comparable to anywhere in the world.
The Managing Director, NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa also said when the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, and top management of the agency, paid a courtesy visit to the corporation on Tuesday in Lagos that the Tinubu-led administration will soon come up with plans for strategic infrastructural development on the railway.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda, had graciously agreed to support all the state governments to develop their intra-city rail networks.
Opeifa lauded the Lagos State Government which through LAMATA has been operating two colour-coded metro trains; (Red and Blue Lines) based on the licenses issued by the Corporation, adding that LAMATA is proving to the world that nothing is impossible.
“The Blue line is an example that nothing is impossible. That is a line that runs exclusively on electricity and LAMATA has been able to keep it in operation for two years non-stop. In the next five years a lot of things will change in this country and soon, Nigerians will be able to even enjoy new generation rail system in this country. In our generation, we shall be able to operate all modes of modern rail systems comparable to anywhere in the world,” Opeifa added.
The Managing Director who lamented that Nigeria built about 3,500 kilometres of rail tracks in 60 years and stopped for another 60 years, said this administration under its Renewed Hope Agenda is determined to put a stop to that and ensure that it sustained the massive investments of the Federal Government on rail transportation infrastructure.
He said as facilitator of trade and business the Corporation will continue to give priority to areas that would lessen the burden of transportation on the people, reduce poverty, and bring down the rising inflation. He said he looked forward to the time when all states of the federation will be able to run train services round the clock in their states which would lessen the burden on the NRC and make it to concentrate on freight movements.
He said he would continue to give Lagos State and other federating states expeditious approvals as this remains the only way to ensure that they would be able to take train services to the hinterlands for the benefit of Nigerians.
He disclosed that four more states are at various stages of readiness to join Lagos as train-friendly states, adding that Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Ogun States are already discussing with the Corporation in opening up their states for rail development.
Opeifa who was excited to receive the LAMATA team said as a Lagosian, he is determined to push the corporation to continue to support all LAMATA’s strides, adding that with him at the helm of affairs at NRC, Lagos should consider the corporation as a ready and willing partner.
In her own remarks, LAMATA’s Managing Director Mrs Abimbola Akinajo said her team had considered it needful to pay the new NRC Managing Director a visit, because of the cordial relationship between the Corporation and LAMATA.
She said LAMATA is happy that a Lagosian and a member of the LAMATA family is now at the helms of affairs at the NRC.
“We are happy about your appointment and we are looking forward to more fruitful working relationship with the NRC. We are happy that both the NRC and LAMATA are driven by the passion to make rail transportation available to Nigerians.
She said Lagos State has continued to make judicious use of the licences given to the state for both the Red and Blue Line and the access granted for the Red Line to use the national corridor.
“We decided to pay you a visit and to warmly welcome you back into the transportation family, knowing that under you the Nigerian Railway Corporation would continue to play a major role in Lagos State’s transportation initiatives especially relating to the rail development,” Mrs Akinajo said.
In a related development the Managing Director of Inland Container Nigeria Ltd Mr Omotayo Dada came to seek more partnership with the NRC in moving more containers to the North.
Dada, who visited Opeifa along with the Head of Commercial Services, Mrs King Abigail Odetunde, said ICNL is desirous to sustain and expand containerized movement from Apapa to the Northern parts of the country.
Responding Opeifa said the NRC is desirous of developing new business lines adding that as a facilitator of business the Nigerian Railway Corporation would continue to support businesses, sub nationals and the private sector through it’s specially structured Track Access Business Model and Freight Movement priorities.
