By; MATTHEW UKACHUNWA, Lagos
The Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has disclosed that its target is to begin to run hourly train services.
Managing Director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, related the information to members of the House of Representatives Committee on Land Transportation who performed oversight function on Lagos to Ibadan railway infrastructure on Friday.
“We are still working on that because we want to make sure our service is sustainable,” Okhiria said.
According to him, train services can be run passed the schedule but there has to be resources to continue to do so.
“We need to pay for security, we also need to pay for power, electricity. So, nothing stops us from running every hour if we have the resources to buy diessel for electric power,” Okhiria emphasized.
Chairman, House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh, assured the corporation that her committee will, either through legislation or through other means, encourage the rail transport sector in order to ensure that it works.
“I believe we need to give the rail transport sector the much needed attention to see that it works. So far, I’m impressed,” Onuh said.
The representatives inspected the Operations Room/Control Centre in Lagos, and the committee chairman stressed that work going on there is over 95 per cent completed.
The committee chairman stated that just like herself, a lot of people like travelling by train, as such, she expressed the House’s determination to facilitate the progress of the railways.
“The rail transportion is very vital to the development of any nation and when these things begin to work the prices of food will crash automatically; things will get better and transportion will be a lot cheaper,” Onuh predicted.
She expressed satisfaction with the railway infrastructure she saw, describing them as magnificent.
The parliamentarians also inspected technical workshop at Ebute Metta (EBJ) in Lagos State. Onuh was excited and impressed to see female technicians working on traction motor, some having served there for over 24 years. She suggested the training of more female technicians and female locomotive drivers.
The committee went through Kajola Wagon Assembly Plant in Ogun State.
The House of Representatives members also examined the ticketing room at Obafemi Awolowo mega station in Ibadan, Oyo State.
