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By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The Iddo terminus building has over the years sheltered passengers and goods transit and it’s visibility in Lagos Island adjourning Carter and ijora bridge attracts attention of motorists and passersby.
Hitherto, shopping malls, first/second class waiting rooms, toilet facilities and police station offered succour for passengers convenience before departure and arrival within the terminal building while warehouses built in and around the environ provided space for storage of goods pending loading into the train or distribution by trucks to their various destinations after offloading.
However, the terminal which used to bubble with activities now has a shabby outlook with epileptic electricity supply, and poor toilet convenience.
In addition, construction of shantties, Illegal trading and extortionists activities allegedly aided by some officials of NRC and Police has remained order of the day; albeit suspension of long distance passenger and goods train service by management of the corporation due largely to shortfall in number of narrow gauge locomotive engines and insecurity.
It therefore came as a relief to close watchers of unfolding events in Nigerian Railway Corporation, when Dr. Kayode Opeifa on assumption of office visited Iddo terminus and immediately promised to give it a facelift.
To fulfil this agenda he recently engaged leaders of traders from Iddo, Ijora-Olopa, Ifelodun and Otto operating within the terminus and environs on the planned facelift of old Iddo railway terminus building.
President, Legacy Museum, Mr. Taiye Olaniyi in reaction to the visit said the decision of present helmsman of NRC to engage the traders before transforming Iddo terminus is monumental and shows commitment to preservation of heritage.
He enjoined Opeifa to seek quality and quantum service in order to give Iddo a befitting facelift that will reflect past and present.
He described Iddo terminus as “A living reminder of events, a portrait gallery and a miniature encyclopaedia” adding that it was in realization of this that Iddo terminus building was used as a symbol on one of our postal stamp in 1961 to reflect our heritage for generations yet unborn.
“Iddo terminus is a centrifugal and centripetal where people meet and disperse. It is a melting point and not limited to a particular class of people hence the facelift should reflect the past and present,” Olaniyi enthused.
He also commended approach adopted by Opeifa in reaching out to the traders so as to consider their in-puts instead of planning for the traders without allowing them to have a say.
Recall that the NRC boss had during a recent meeting with traders operating within Iddo and environs alerted them that the present administration of Nigerian Railway Corporation is determined to transform Iddo train station.
Opeifa assured the traders that no one will lose land that are legitimately acquired from Nigerian Railway Property Management Company Limited.
While alluding to the fact that some traders are building on the tracks and trading illegally without approval he assured that just as some people are already building on railway tracks without any approval from the corporation.
“It is our desire to contribute to helping to improve the value of where you trade. Iddo is dirty. There is no electricity and no toilet facilities.
“We are working very hard to ensure we bring back these facilities. I have created a business unit for Iddo, because of the priority we have set for the place.
“We are determined to flush out drug traffickers from all our landed property at Iddo and we are assuring you that the place would no longer be a hideout for criminals.
“The time that rightful tenants of our property would benefit from Iddo has finally come. We would leave no stone unturned in achieving a total transformation of Iddo Train Terminus,” Opeifa declared.
He also assured the traders that the corporation is not going to increase rent on any of its property around the area, adding that all tenants will now be paying directly to Nigerian Railway Property Management Company Ltd (NRPML).
While alluding to the fact that some shantties may be affected he harped on willful compliance to all tenancy agreements in order to shore up its revenue which would be used to improve on the state of facilities at the Iddo markets.
“Nigeria’s economy is kept busy and vibrant by activities of traders like you and I can say that economic activities between Iddo and Apapa Ports alone, keeps that nation’s economy going,” Opeifa added.
Responding, Leaders of the traders expressed happiness that the managing director deemed it fit to meet with traders, to share his plans for the transformation of Iddo train terminus.
“This is the first time that we would meet with the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and we are happy because we are relating with someone who shares our feelings and have allayed our fears that the corporation would eject us forcefully out of the market which has provided food on our table for decades,” Alhaji Rashid Ajibola, Chairman of Iddo Railway Terminal Traders said.
Chairman of Ijora Olopa Ajeloro Fish Market, Mr Aina Adekoya in his comments expressed happiness that the NRC boss was not interested in taking over their market, but working to transform the Iddo train terminal and its environs, which would be in the interest of all traders.
According to a statement signed by Chief Public Relations Officer of the corporation, Calistus Unyinmadu the traders agreed to go back home and redouble their support for the success of the transformation of Iddo train terminus agenda.
