By Fidelis Ugbomeh
On January, 21 this year rumours about the veiled successor of immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria was finally unveiled with the announcement of Mr. Kayode Opeifa as the new helmsman.
This announcement came barely two months after the former MD completed his 8-year tenure and handed over to the most senior Director Mr.Ben Iloanusi at a low key ceremony held in Lagos
Suspicions about the skimmings on who will replace Okhiria however became rife when the former acting MD who automatically reverts to his position as Director Procurement did not allow the Public Relations Department of the Corporation to produce an official portrait as obtains whenever there is change of guard.
It was however not the same in the case of Opeifa as the official portrait was made available immediately after the announcement by the Minister of Transportation Senator, Sa’idu Alkali
Meanwhile expectations are high as the new helmsman resumes office despite the progress made in the modernization of rail infrastructure during the tenure of Okhiria.
Part of the expectations of the staff and general public range from commencement of suspended Lagos to Kano freight and passenger train service on the narrow gauge railway line to purchase of more locomotive engines and coaches to complement the existing few in the corporation’s narrow gauge fleet.
Two major challenges facing safe train operation by night and day as obtained in past are vandalism and encroachment on railway tracks especially by hoodlums and traders respectively.
The new managing director is expected to address these issues as well as prevail on Salaries and Wages Commission to implement upward review of special salary scale for railway workers.
Now that the Corporation has been removed from exclusive to concurrent list Mr. Jonathan Ikhafia said the new helmsman should be in forefront of championing partnerships with states, local governments and private sector in order to procure Locomotive engines/rolling stocks as well as construct railway tracks based on strict adherence to regulations.
Regarding modernization, he advised Opeifa to liaise with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC so as to commence second phase of extension of standard gauge railway line from Ibadan to Ilorin.
He stated further that the NRC boss through Federal Ministry of Transportation ensure approval and release of counterpart funds required to enable EXIM Bank of China meets its own obligation to complete the 2nd phase of the standard gauge railway project from Kaduna to Kano and 3rd phase from Ibadan to Ilorin.
The new management according to Mr. Eric Umezurike, managing director, First Rit Nigeria Limited should also address the lingering problem of monitization of railway quartets which was agreed to be settled out of court after many years of legal battle between former management under headship of Engr. Fidet Okhiria and Nigerian Union of Railway Workers.
The issue is such that retired staff are still occupying the railway quarters littering some parts of the country while some staff who are still in service have no option than to look for alternative accommodation outside railway premises when posted outside their districts.