NRC boss urges private sector, others to invest in rail infrastructure

By Temitope Adebayo

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation NRC, Dr Fidet Okhiria, has advised sub-national governments and the private sector to invest in rail infrastructure.

Okhiria said this during the Endowed Professorial Chair on Transport and Logistics Guest Lecture at the School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University.

While delivering a lecture titled, ‘From Exclusive Clause to Concurrent List: Potency for Sustainable Rail Infrastructure in Nigeria and the Lagos State Example,’ at the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Centre, main campus, Ojo.

He advised the concerned to take advantage of the constitutional amendment that removed the construction and operation of railways from the exclusive list to the concurrent list.

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“The prospects are promising if projects are approached incrementally. The challenge often arises when governments attempt to initiate and finish projects within their tenure. Rail infrastructure requires phased development. Implementing a deliberate policy of, for instance, constructing 20km annually and incorporating it into the budget could lead to substantial progress. Continuity across administrations could result in significant rail network expansion, potentially reaching 200km in a decade,” he said.

NRC boss praised Lagos State for its proactive role in rail development, citing the early commencement of the blue rail line project with NRC’s support, even preceding the 2023 legislative reforms.

He urged interested governments and organisations to collaborate with NRC to invest in the sector while maintaining high standards.