FG sets up c’ttee to unbundle NRC as states enter partnership

The Federal government has set up a committee to work out modalities for unbundling the Nigerian Railway Corporation through private, public partnership.

In line with the new policy, the corporation has given track access to interested private and public sector partners to invest in purchasing coaches and Locomotive engines that will operate on the national track and pay royalties to the corporation.

Managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporateion Engr. Fidet Okhiria who dropped this hint in Lagos on Monday said that some state governments like Lagos, Kaduna, Niger, Plateau and Borno have declared interest to enter into partnership with the corporation in the provision of logistics and diesel.

He noted that in the case of the red line in Lagos, the state government has entered into partnership with NRC for use of the standard gauge rail line to operate passenger train service from Oyingbo-Agbado based on some terms of agreement.

According to him, the Lagos state government will pay NRC some money as payment for use of NRC track to operate passenger train service.

As for Niger, Plateau, Kaduna, and Borno he NRC boss said modalities are being worked out for the states to provide diesel for operating intra state train service for evacuation of farm products and passengers at a cheaper rate.

“We don’t want to make the mistake made by some government agencies in the past. So the approach adopted is unbundling so that other states and the private sector can as well invest in rail development and not leave for the Federal government”, Okhiria said.