NRC eyes 100% movement of goods through rail nationwide

File: Nigerian Railway Corporation headquarters

The management of the Nigeria Railway Corporation has expressed determination to ensure the smooth movement of goods along all distances across the country.

The Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection tour of properties managed by Railway Property Management Company Limited in Kaduna.

Opeifa, who also doubles as the Board Chairman of RPMCL, said the drive of NRC, is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.

He said that it was aimed at boosting businesses that would impact the nation’s economy.

Opeifa said, “Nigeria Railway Corporation under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is determined to achieve 100 per cent smooth movement of goods both along the narrow gauge and the standard gauge.

“We are already assembling wagons at Kajola in Oyo State so that wagons will no longer be an issue and the government is equally looking into the issues of rolling stokes as well.

“We are committed to ensuring that the movement of goods from say Lagos to Kaduna Dry Port is achieved somewhere at the beginning of the second quarter.

“We are also determined just like we promised Niger Foods and the Nigrer Government that we will do everything possible to get cargo from Niger; Mokwa, Jebba, and wherever their Inland Dry Port is situated.

“Also, we are committed to ensuring that people from Kaduna and Kano can move goods, particularly for exports.”

Opeifa, at the stop-by at the Kaduna Inland Dry Port, commended the management for sustaining service delivery at the port.

He said: “We are determined, committed and are in partnership with Kaduna Dry Port and also all other state governments and private entities along this corridor to make sure that this is out to use.

“The benefits from this partnership would amongst others; make our tracks to be protected from vandals, reduce the cost of goods in the market, improve the standard of living of our people, reduce inflation, and improve means of doing business.

“We commend our subsidiary for putting the property of NRC to proper use and with this, people should understand that we are ready for business.

“Every asset of the organisation would be put to maximum use for the benefit of the Nigerian people.”

The Managing Director of Inland Containers Nigeria Limited, operators of Kaduna Inland Dry Port, Mr Omotayo Dada expressed satisfaction with the visit by the NRC boss, adding, “The discussions showed that there is a lot to come in the future.

“The Dry Port is not idle as a whole lot is going on here.

“With the discussions we have heard, I am optimistic that before the year runs out, productivity would even increase by about 70 per cent as such, we look forward to a new and fantastic disposition.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that places visited by the NRC MD included properties at; Kaduna Inland Dry Port, Kakuri, newly built market stores at Kaduna Junction Station, Abkpakwa, and Rigasa Train Stations. (NAN)