By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The Managing Director of Railway Property Management Company Limited (RPMCL) Mr. Timothy Zalanga has said that old structures commercialised within railway compounds in the country was authorised by Management of Nigerian Railway Corporation in line with the Act establishing the former.
This remark underscores call by president of Lagacy museum, Mr. Taiwo Olaniyi on Managing Director of NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa to preserve most of the old structures that are located in various railway compounds across the country from being either demolished or outrightly remodelled as currently obtains.
The RPMCL helmsman in a swift reaction said that the company has never leased land or demolished/remodelled structures identified to serve as monuments in the railway compounds, since its establishment.
He pointed out that, it falls within jurisdiction of management of NRC to release all non operational land and properties to RPMCL for commercialisation as stipulated by the act establishing the company.
Zalanga noted that for instance the structure currently occupied by “Legacy Museum” and the one opposite it inside railway compound in Lagos was donated by management of Nigerian Railway Corporation for exhibition of railway relics and artifacts and has since continued to serve that purpose.
“Railway Property Management Company Limited is mandated to commercialise all non operational land and landed properties of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“In doing so, the company is guided by its processes and procedures, which usually requires the NRC to release such properties before they are commercialised.
If, in any case, any structure is termed as a monument, it cannot be released by NRC for commercialisation and for now, I am not aware of any structure that was demolished/remodelled or leased out that was termed a monument,” Zalanga averred
He explained further that in line with the act establishing RPMCL the old wooden built railway training school opposite recreation club and railway quarters along Murtala Mohammed way, in Lagos where demolished and rebuilt as railway guest house and paradise events center respectively while an abandoned railway structure hitherto habited by squatters at Marine beach, Apapa in Lagos has since been converted into a shopping complex/apartment for commercial purposes.
According to Zalanga other giant strides recorded by the company include construction of ultra modern market by Cityscape properties along civic centre road, Kano and provision of lock up shops at railway station, Kaduna as well as construction of police station at Bola Ahmed Tinubu railway station, Apapa for provision of security.
He explained further that all the aforementioned structures have been commercialised and handed over to private organisations to manage based on terms of agreement with the company and authorisation of NRC’s management.
Olaniyi had suggested that old structures in the railway compounds should be preserved and maintained as monumentsvso as to offer special opportunities for study or research by students and other interest groups.
He said that students from University of Lagos and other institutions of higher learning within Lagos state visited the museum to learn about architectural designs many of which are still preserved in their colonial state.
A former railway locomotive engine driver, Mr. Kehinde Oloko also supported this view saying, some near dormant structures like loco workshops/loco running sheds in some districts of the corporation should be commercialised by RPMCL so as not to serve as safe havens for criminals and kidnappers to launch their attacks on innocent people.
The Managing Director of NRC in his response advised management of the museum to consider production of a comprehensive documentary detailing all railway monuments especially residential and railway station buildings for reference purposes.
He expressed readiness of the corporation to collaborate with the museum through expansion of their programmes to attract more tourists.