The Federal Government is considering unbundling the Nigerian Railway Corporation to make its services more efficient and effective says the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo.
The Director, Press & Public Relations officer, Eric Ojiekwe in a statement on Friday said Sambo disclosed this in Abuja when members of the NRC Governing Board paid him a courtesy visit.
According to the statement, the Minister said Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) cannot be the owner, Operator, and Regulator at the same time, pointing out that “The private sector is the engine of growth.
“Let someone else operate your lines efficiently.
“We cannot have an Agency that is owner, Regulator, and Operator at the same time”.
Briefing the Board on what the Government is doing concerning the resumption of rail services, Sambo said commercial operations will resume after security measures are installed to forestall the reoccurrence of train attacks in the country.
“We are looking at how the rail lines can be safe by putting 24 hours surveillance and immediate response apparatus”.
He further said security measures will include short and long-term plans, with the short-term plans taking effect from November.
The Minister said that in addition to the security measures, he had promised Nigerians that rail services will become operational only when those kidnapped in the Abuja – Kaduna train service regained their freedom and are reunited with their families.
“I’ve told Nigerians that I will not run the services until every captive is released. We are lucky today, they are all released and reunited with their families.
“We are also lucky that all of them are back alive and were all given proper medical care”, the Minister added.
In relation to infrastructural development in the country, he said no Government has invested more in infrastructure than President Buhari’s Administration.
In his words: “I dare say that no Government has invested in infrastructure more than the President Muhammadu Buhari Government.”
He revealed that a National Transportation Policy that will articulate a seamless transportation system for the country will soon be launched, urging the Board to ready itself by looking for alternative sources of cheaper and cleaner energy for the transport sector.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NRC Board, Engr. Ibrahim Alhassan Musa informed the Minister that due to the high cost of diesel, the cost of running the trains is so high, admitting, in fact, that they are running at a loss.
He called on the Minister to intervene as the Railway Service is one of the things the present Administration prides itself of, especially the Lagos – Ibadan, the Warri – Itakpe, and the Abuja-Kaduna railway lines.
