As part of the Federal Government's transformation agenda and its commitment to revamping the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the NRC has commenced the process of Capability Enhancement Programme to resuscitate, revitalize and modernize the railway system.
The process is aimed at incorporating the private sector as well as State and Local Government in the development of domestic capacity for production of rail materials and components additional to railway operations.
At a one day, Public-Private-Stakeholder workshop on Capability Enhancement Programme held in Abuja recently, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar said that Government adopted the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) model as the strategy to bridge the huge infrastructure gap in order to stimulate the economy.
"To this end, and in order to ensure more participation of the private sector, States and Local Government, the Federal Government, the National Council on Privatization has approved four Transport Sector Bills. These Bills are being fine-tuned by the Attorney General of the Federation for processing to the Federal Executive Council before transmittal to National Assembly", he stated.
The Minister noted that the rail sector with its enormous potentials is a key component of the national economy which needs to be harnessed to the benefit of the citizenry.
The Managing Director of NRC, Engineer Adeseye Sijuwade stressed that the focal point of the enhancement programme which comprises of specific number of private partnership initiatives is expected to design, build, maintain, operate and transfer of warehousing to provide suitable, safe and secure storage, space for goods.
According to Engineer Sijuwade, the partnership is expected to finance, supply and operate modern facilities and provide services for loading and offloading of goods. It is also expected to supply and jointly manage with NRC, railway' coaches to enhance passenger carriage capacity.
The partnership is also expected to finance, supply and jointly manage with NRC, railway wagons to enhance freight haulage capacity and capacity management of all major stations to complement the remodelling and redevelopment of the stations.
The Chairman of Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme SURE-P, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who was represented the convener on SURE-P Committee on Railways, Mr. Chike Okongwu said that in this 21 Century, the way forward is the collaboration between the Government and the private sector.
He noted that, at some point in time, the Government should let go as it has successfully done in other critical areas after providing the requisite infrastructure and allow the private sector do the part of operations, management and administration of railways.
"As we look forward to enjoying world class facilities soon with proper PPP, we declare our full support for the NRC and her dreams and commit here that as long as SURE-P is still working to deliver service with integrity to Nigerians, the railways remain one of our vital cardinal point of intervention"; Kolade assured.
The deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Transport, Senator Solomon Ewuga called for a total change in our railway system because according to him, efficient railway system would improve our technology base, advertisement and telecommunication.
He stated that until the framework is done, allied interface would not be completed. The Transport Minister on his own however, called for a review of railway budgeting.
The chairman, House Committee on Lands and Transport, Musa Adams urged the NRC to organize their programme in a very robust way on regular basis. He also called on the NRC to package what would be discussed and give it to him to present to the House Committee on Transport for further discussion.