FG mulls strategies to augment railway funding
By Jonah Nwokpoku
Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has said that the federal government may consider giving some concessions to the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRc to mitigate its funding constraints. *Senator Ashafa He stated this while speaking with journalists after inspecting some of the corporation’s facilities in Lagos. He said: “We know their constraints but this requires that they come up with a lot of initiatives and ensure that they make the breakthrough. Funding is one aspect that is seriously affecting the corporation. However, I believe strongly that if they make a good enough case, particularly now that we are considering the 2016 appropriation, some concessions can be given by way of moving some funds from one area to the other for them to be able to meet their obligations. I don’t want to mention the figures that they will need to complete all the projects that they have at hand but we will try as much as possible to ensure that the rail system continues to blaze the trail of those that have vision to assist Nigeria move from one part of the country to the other.” On their observations after the facilities’ tour, Ashafa said: “ It was very heartening that we were able to move around and see that as against the belief that the rail system in Nigeria is dead, we can see that great efforts have been put in to ensure that the rail system comes alive. Of particular interest is the safe train control system which has been put in place. It is quite visionary and it is in line with global best practices as it concerns rail system. We have not gotten there yet but we are taking steps in the right direction and I must congratulate the management of NRC. “By going to certain areas, we also discovered that if enough investment is made in the rail sector, the possibility of removing the pressure on our roads is so glaring. Today, I have not seen in a long time, how one can leave Iponri and get to Apapa Wharf under seven minutes but we did it in the train system. And when we were coming back too, it was so easy. So I think that the salvation of Nigeria as far as transportation is concerned should be in an effective and efficient rail transport.” On his part, the Managing Director, NRC Engr.Adeseyi Sijuade said: “There is so much we have to do this year. We plan to build two new standard gauge lines. We plan to complete all rehabilitation projects. There is so much work to be done and this is the time to stay focused and get on with the job and get it done this year. There are high expectations from Nigerians and that is what we really want to focus on. “It is unprecedented having joint inspection by the Senate and House of Reps Committee on Land Transportation, coming to see what the railway is all about. As we heard from both chairmen, they were very impressed and what they have come to realise is that railways at this point needs support. It needs cash injection so that all our wagons and freight’s frequency can be enhanced. The tracks are done and we have trains moving from Lagos to Kano. What we lack is not having adequate number of wagons and coaches to move petroleum products, cement, etc. We are actually underutilising all the funding that has gone into rehabilitating the tracks because we do not have enough rolling stock to achieve the level of frequency we need for freight movement to meet the demands of our customers.”
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/fg-mulls-strategies-to-augment-railway-funding/
Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transportation, Senator Gbenga Ashafa has said that the federal government may consider giving some concessions to the Nigeria Railway Corporation, NRc to mitigate its funding constraints. *Senator Ashafa He stated this while speaking with journalists after inspecting some of the corporation’s facilities in Lagos. He said: “We know their constraints but this requires that they come up with a lot of initiatives and ensure that they make the breakthrough. Funding is one aspect that is seriously affecting the corporation. However, I believe strongly that if they make a good enough case, particularly now that we are considering the 2016 appropriation, some concessions can be given by way of moving some funds from one area to the other for them to be able to meet their obligations. I don’t want to mention the figures that they will need to complete all the projects that they have at hand but we will try as much as possible to ensure that the rail system continues to blaze the trail of those that have vision to assist Nigeria move from one part of the country to the other.” On their observations after the facilities’ tour, Ashafa said: “ It was very heartening that we were able to move around and see that as against the belief that the rail system in Nigeria is dead, we can see that great efforts have been put in to ensure that the rail system comes alive. Of particular interest is the safe train control system which has been put in place. It is quite visionary and it is in line with global best practices as it concerns rail system. We have not gotten there yet but we are taking steps in the right direction and I must congratulate the management of NRC. “By going to certain areas, we also discovered that if enough investment is made in the rail sector, the possibility of removing the pressure on our roads is so glaring. Today, I have not seen in a long time, how one can leave Iponri and get to Apapa Wharf under seven minutes but we did it in the train system. And when we were coming back too, it was so easy. So I think that the salvation of Nigeria as far as transportation is concerned should be in an effective and efficient rail transport.” On his part, the Managing Director, NRC Engr.Adeseyi Sijuade said: “There is so much we have to do this year. We plan to build two new standard gauge lines. We plan to complete all rehabilitation projects. There is so much work to be done and this is the time to stay focused and get on with the job and get it done this year. There are high expectations from Nigerians and that is what we really want to focus on. “It is unprecedented having joint inspection by the Senate and House of Reps Committee on Land Transportation, coming to see what the railway is all about. As we heard from both chairmen, they were very impressed and what they have come to realise is that railways at this point needs support. It needs cash injection so that all our wagons and freight’s frequency can be enhanced. The tracks are done and we have trains moving from Lagos to Kano. What we lack is not having adequate number of wagons and coaches to move petroleum products, cement, etc. We are actually underutilising all the funding that has gone into rehabilitating the tracks because we do not have enough rolling stock to achieve the level of frequency we need for freight movement to meet the demands of our customers.”Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/02/fg-mulls-strategies-to-augment-railway-funding/
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