July 17, 2024
Plateau, Niger, Borno, and Osun states are among state governments that are geared to invest more and become major players in the railway sub-sector of transportation in Nigeria.
They will be joining Lagos State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, already operating and managing mass transit train services.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this at the Lagos State University (LASU), where he spoke as a guest lecturer at the endowment of a professorial chair on Transport and Logistics at the university.
Okhiria also acknowledged that Lagos would soon commence operation on the Lagos Red Line, as the corporation, which was saddled with regulating railway safety standards, had commenced inspection and certification of various equipment to be deployed on the corridor.
Recall that Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had on February 29, 2024, commissioned the Red Line.
Okhiria who spoke on ‘From exclusive clause to concurrent list: Potency for sustainable rail infrastructure development in Nigeria and the Lagos State Example’ commended the two sub-national governments – Lagos State Government and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for initiating, delivering and running mass transit trains to the admiration of their people.
He said the move would further consolidate railway development from the exclusive list to the current, as signed into law on March 23, 2023, by ex-president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Already, Okhiria said the Plateau State government had commenced a trial run of its train service.
“Lagos State is one of the states already operating a mass transit train in Nigeria. The Lagos Blue Line is a standard gauge track operating between Mile 2 and Marina. The service has greatly reduced the traffic jam usually experienced at Marina to Orile and Mile 2 axis, especially during peak hours.
“Lagos State is presently at an advanced stage of commencing operation on the Red Line from Agbado to Oyingbo. We are currently inspecting and certifying various operating equipment along the corridor for safety concerns. When the service commences, it will greatly impact the way Lagosians travel.
“Other states are already keying in before now, using our track access tool to negotiate a train service within their corridor.
“Notable among them included Plateau State Government, already operating on trial runs, Niger State (talks ongoing), Borno State (talks ongoing), Osun State Government (hire service during festivities) and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) currently restarted its metro line operation, to mention a few” he said.
The NRC chief recalled that before constitution amendment, the corporation was both the sole operator and regulator of rail activities in the country.
He cautioned states against dropping standards due to the high cost involved in building railway infrastructure, which he noted could affect safety.
Okhiria said the NRC would continue to offer necessary technical advice and other input to ensure adherence to uniform global standards in railway development and management.
He urged private investors to key-in to the project in the area of running both passenger and freight train services.
Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello, represented by the DVC Administration, Prof. Mrs. Adenike Omotunde Boyo, said that the removal of the railway from exclusive to the concurrent list would empower states to invest massively in railway business and boost nationwide intermodal transport system.
She commended the Lagos State government for completing and commencing daily commercial train service from Mile 2 to Marina.
Speaking on the endowed professorial chair in Transport Studies at LASU, Prof. Bamidele Badejo said, it was the first of its kind in transport development and sustainable development in sub-Sahara Africa.
He said: “This guest lecture is historic because it is the first time that the endowment has gathered and assembled stakeholders and intellectuals in the rail transport sub-sector to brainstorm and provide a road map for the repositioning and improving various activities and infrastructure on rail transportation.”
