The House of Representatives has promised to fast-track the second reading of a proposed bill aimed at enabling the private sector to invest in railway transportation.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Blessing Onuh, stated this while fielding questions from newsmen during the committee’s oversight visit to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) stations in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states.
Onuh, daughter of the former Senate President Senator David Mark, who represents the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, said: “The bill has passed the first reading. Hopefully, it will be coming for a second reading shortly.
“That bill is proposed to unbundle the NRC to allow companies to come in and allow private partnerships to invest in the rail sector. That will enhance development.”
She stressed that an effective railway transport system is pivotal to the socio-economic development of the country, adding that the committee would provide legislative support for the means of transport to thrive.
“Rail transport is very vital to the development of every nation. So, we need to encourage the railway transport sector,” she said.
According to her, the unbundling of the country’s oldest public corporation remains the only stumbling block to fully deregulate the rail sector and encourage private investors to play their part in the development of the sub-sector.
The committee was taken through the maintenance processes of the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge to the Alex Ekwueme Control Tower, before boarding one of the standard gauge trains at the Mobolaji Johnson Train Station for a trip to Ibadan.
The NRC’s Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed that plans are underway to seek an investor that could provide an independent power project (IPP) to run electric locomotives.
He said the existing standard gauges were designed to run on electric trains, but said electricity to power it is yet to be provided.
“The modern locomotive is an electric locomotive. So most of what we are trying to do is try to see an investor that will provide an Independent Power Project (IPP) for rail service so that we will buy diesel.
“What we are trying to get are people who are coming with proposals and we are looking into a dedicated line for rail operations but any standard line,” he said.
He disclosed that barriers were being installed at the station to ensure that only passengers who have tickets would be allowed into the departure hall.
He said the installation would be done in the next two weeks before operations, adding that the corporation is waiting for the CCECC to hand over the operations room in Lagos to the NRC.
Speaking on the handing over of facilities by the Chinese to the NRC, Fidet assured that maintenance is almost ready.
“Do not forget that we have an agreement that they will provide the technical service for three years and they are still providing that. What is left now is to hand over the OCC to NRC. Then, we can start completely from there,” the MD said.