Expect more new generation trains under Tinubu – Opeifa

Expect more new generation trains under Tinubu – Opeifa

*FG to support states in developing intra-city rail

Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has said the Tinubu administration will next month come up with a master plan for the nation’s railway.

He also disclosed that the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda had agreed to support all state governments to develop their intra-city rail networks taking off from the national rail corridor in their state.

He said under President Bola Tinubu, Nigerians would operate more new generation train systems comparable to anywhere in the world.

He said this during a visit by the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr. Abimbola Akinajo, who led top management of the agency, among them Director of Rail Services, Olasunkanmi Okusaga, Head Corporate Communication, Kolawole Ojelabi, and the Corporate Legal Secretary, Abiola Ajayi, to the NRC head office, Lagos.

Opeifa lauded the Lagos State Government which through LAMATA has been operating two metro trains (Red and Blue Lines) based on the licences issued by the corporation.

LAMATA, he said, had proved to the world that nothing is impossible.

The NRC MD said, “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 our generation, we shall be able to operate all modes of modern rail system comparable to anywhere in the world.”

Opeifa who lamented that Nigeria built about 3,500 kilometres of rail track in 60 years and stopped for another 60 years, said this administration was determined to put a stop to that and ensure that it sustained the massive investments of the Federal Government in rail transportation infrastructure.

He said as facilitator of trade and business, the corporation would 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 would be able to run train services round the clock, which would reduce the burden on the NRC and make it to concentrate on freight movement.

He promised to 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.

Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Ogun states were discussing with the corporation in opening up their states for rail development, he added.

Opeifa who was excited to receive the LAMATA team said as a Lagosian, he remained determined to push the corporation to continue to support all LAMATA’s strides.

He stressed that with him at the helm of affairs at the 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 MD 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.

She said, “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 also said Lagos State had 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,” 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 NRC would continue to support businesses, sub nationals and the private sector through its specially structured Track Access Business Model and Freight Movement priorities.