Rail development: FG to explore bilateral, multilateral agreements, says minister

Rail development: FG to explore bilateral, multilateral agreements, says minister

Minister of Transportation, Senator Saidu Alkali, says the Federal Government will take advantage of the numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements between Nigeria and other countries on trade, commerce and technology transfer to facilitate the ongoing development of the nation’s rail transport sector.

He also assured workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) that better allowances are in the offing for them to enhance their welfare and productivity.

He spoke in Wednesday during his visit to the NRC headquarters at Ebute-Meta, Lagos.

He promised the NRC management of his ministry’s support towards realising its statutory functions.

The minister said that transportation constitutes a major organ in promoting economic growth across countries world over.

“The visit is to evaluate the existing rail infrastructure and ongoing projects with particular reference to Lagos-Ibadan and Kano-Maradi railway modernisation project.

”The familiarisation tour of railway facilities and projects within Lagos was interesting, despite a number of discoveries that required urgent executive action,” Alkali said.

He promised to reach out to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr Wale Adeniyi, to facilitate the removal of the customs building at APM Terminal blocking a rail track.

Alkali said that there was the need to look for a lasting solution to the delay in the removal of the building, which had prevented the completion of the two standard gauge lines.

He said the ministry was working towards fixing the single track carrying containers from Lagos to Kano within three months.

The minister added that the ministry was also working toward expansion of the operational scope of Kajola Rail Wagon Assembly Plant.

He commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for establishing the plant at Kajola as their Corporate Social Responsibility.

Alkali said that the ministry would ensure completion of Bola Tinubu Station of the standard gauge rail within three weeks.

He requested the Managing Director of NRC Property Ltd., Mr Timothy Zalanga, to provide comprehensive data of the corporation’s real estate.

The Managing Director, NRC, Mr Fidet Okhiria, congratulated the minister on his appointment.

According to the NRC MD, the railway is the bedrock of economic growth and development of the country, through mass movement of freights and people.

He said that railway contributes to urbanisation, business expansion and social integration for peaceful coexistence.

Okhiria said the NRC had faced challenges, including security threats and vandalism of critical infrastructure.

He said, “We must commend the effort of various security agencies for securing the NRC facilities for safety of our valued passengers and other stakeholders by arresting and prosecuting offenders.

“I will also commend the effort of the minister for the visit to Idu Railway Station Abuja, which in fact, and in all honesty, has spurred us to be more proactive.

”The visit has shown the minister’s commitment to safe, clean, effective and comfortable train service to Nigeria people.”

He pleaded with the minister to use his legislative experience to achieve his mandate of railway modernisation projects.

Okhiria said that the laying of standard gauge tracks from Kaduna to Kano was in progress, while the next stage would be from Kano to Maradi.

He also commended the efforts of the minister on the commencement of freight containers haulage from Apapa ports to Kano.

The President, Union of NRC workers, Mr Innocent Ajiji, pledged to support the new minister for having them in mind to upscale the welfare of the staff. (NAN)