NRC Begins Major Operational Reset with Review of 150 Standard Procedures

NRC Begins Major Operational Reset with Review of 150 Standard Procedures

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has launched a comprehensive review of more than 150 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in a major push to improve safety, operational efficiency, accountability and service delivery across Nigeria’s railway network.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day Executive Standard Operating Procedure Review and Familiarisation Retreat in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Opeifa said the exercise would provide the Corporation with practical and enforceable operational guidelines capable of reducing risks, standardising procedures and driving excellence across all departments.

Represented by the Head of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence (BuPED) Desk, Mr. Oyekunle Oyewole, the NRC boss stressed that the initiative was central to the Corporation’s transformation agenda.

According to a statement by the NRC’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Callistus Unyimadu, Opeifa described an SOP as more than a bureaucratic requirement.

“An SOP is not bureaucracy. It is a practical document that tells every member of staff—from the track to the boardroom—what to do, how to do it, and who is responsible,” he said.

He noted that well-designed SOPs would strengthen operational efficiency, enhance safety standards and align the Corporation’s operations with global best practices.

Opeifa urged directors and other participants to critically assess the existing procedures and produce documents that reflect the realities of a modern railway system.

“Review with the eye of a leader. Challenge existing gaps and own the solutions. Let us leave here with SOPs that are practical, enforceable and fit for the railway we are building today,” he charged.

The retreat, which commenced on Wednesday aboard the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service conference coach en route to Abeokuta, brought together directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, management staff and members of the BuPED team.

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In his opening remarks, Oyekunle disclosed that over 150 SOPs were being reviewed to build a stronger, more efficient and better-coordinated organisation.

He added that increased collaboration among departments would improve teamwork and accelerate the Corporation’s transformation.

The Managing Director’s Technical Adviser on Train Operations, Mr. Adeife Akin Olukolade, described the SOP as a living document that must evolve with the changing demands of railway operations.

Drawing from more than two decades of railway experience across three continents, he expressed confidence that codifying the procedures would usher the NRC into a new era of operational excellence.

Also speaking, the Director of Operations, Mr. Akin Oshinowo, said the review would help reduce operational incidents, improve efficiency, ensure consistency in service delivery, strengthen compliance with established standards, guarantee value for money and promote a proactive work culture where employees perform their duties with minimal supervision.

He assured participants of management’s commitment to providing the necessary support for the successful implementation of the reviewed SOPs and embedding them into the Corporation’s operational culture.

The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Monsurat Omotayo, who presented the first technical paper on the role of capacity building in implementing SOPs, emphasised continuous staff training, effective leadership, a strong compliance culture and performance measurement as critical to successful implementation.

During the interactive session, participants underscored the importance of strict adherence to the SOPs by all categories of staff.

The Director of Civil Engineering and New Lines, Engr. Adekunle Ayeni, stressed that attitudinal change and effective consequence management would be key to successful implementation, advocating a balanced system of rewards for compliance and sanctions for violations.

The Managing Director’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategic Communication, Mr. Adeyinka Aderibigbe, described the retreat as a milestone, expressing optimism that the final document would become a benchmark for railway operators and service providers across the industry.

Similarly, the Deputy Director of Finance, Alhaji Abdullah, said the exercise marked the first time the Corporation would have a comprehensive operational document developed through the collective input of key departments, making it practical, inclusive and implementable.

The review covered SOPs for the Corporate Planning, Medical, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Procurement, Operations and Commercial, Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal and Telecommunications (MEST), and Human Resources departments.

Closing the retreat, Dr. Omotayo thanked participants for their robust contributions and urged them to sustain the momentum as the Corporation moves to the implementation phase of the revised operational framework.

 

NRC Begins Major Operational Reset with Review of 150 Standard Procedures