Reps move to speed up NRC unbundling

The House of Representatives has commenced moves to speed up the unbundling of the Nigerian Railway Corporation as part of plans to deregulate the sector and encourage private investments.

Railway development and management has been moved from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, giving state governments the power to build and operate railway systems.

The Chairperson of the House Committee on Land Transport, Blessing Onuh, disclosed this while leading members of the committee on a visit to the NRC in Lagos, according to a statement on Sunday.

Onuh, daughter of former Senate President, David Mark, who is representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, said a bill for the unbundling of the railway sector was already before the House of Representatives.

 “The unbundling will allow people to come in and develop the rail sector. The bill has passed the first reading. Hopefully, it will be coming for a second reading shortly.

“That bill is to unbundle the Nigerian Railway Corporation to allow companies to come in, allow private partnership investments in the rail sector, and that will enhance development,” she stated.

She said an effective railway transport system would enhance the socio-economic development of the country and promised that the committee would provide the needed legislative support for the rail transport sector to thrive.

“Rail transport is very vital to the development of every nation. So, we need to encourage the railway transport sector,” she said.

Onuh said her committee toured the various units of train operations during the facility tour.

The Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, decried the non-availability of power, saying this had hindered the corporation from activating the Alex Ekwueme Control Tower.

He, however, stated that efforts were underway to develop a stable energy source and backup energy to enable the control centre to monitor everything happening on the entire railway corridor.