FG moves to remodel Nigeria’s railway stations

Federal government  says it has inaugurated transaction advisers to drive the process for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in remodelling and redeveloping nine railway stations nationwide.

The permanent secretary, ministry of transport, Mr Nebolisa Emodi, was speaking in Abuja on Thursday when the peer review team, led by the head of civil service of the federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, visited the ministry.

Emodi identified Iddo Terminus, Ebute Meta Junction Stations in Lagos, Ilorin and Kaduna Junction Stations, as some of those to be remodelled.

Also to be remodelled are Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Jos and Gombe Stations.

In a presentation, Emodi said the remodelling through PPP was followed by the lifting of the embargo on rent and lease of the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s land and landed property.

“Transaction advisers have been commissioned to drive the process for PPP. Advertisement for the expression of interest is expected to be published in October 2014,” he said.

He said the remodelling was part of federal government’s agenda to resuscitate and revitalise Nigeria railway system for the haulage of goods and movement of passengers.

Emodi said the ministry was striving to develop policy and enabling environment for PPP in inter-modal transport system.

He said Bills, which would allow for more private sector participation, were under consideration by the federal executive council for transmission to the national assembly.

He said they included the Nigerian Railway Authority, National Transport Commission, Ports and Harbour and the National Inland Waterways Authority bills.

Emodi said the ministry was focused on formulating policies on road, rail, maritime and inland waterways in line with federal government’s goals and objectives for an efficient transport sector.

Emodi added that the ministry was create a world class transportation system which could position it as a hub in the West and Central African Sub-region.

He said under the 2014 budget, the ministry and its agencies sought to consolidate and sustain the gains and performances recorded with 2011, 2012 and 2013 budgets.

“This will be done by focusing on the completion of ongoing projects as well as sustenance of the gains achieved in the transport sector,” he said.

Aji said the purpose of the peer review was to achieve the desire and objectives of the national strategic public service reform.

He said the team was focused on achieving a world class public service by aligning the objectives and mandate of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

He said the team was a body of permanent secretaries put together to assess their performance in the MDAs.

“It is a group of the same persons, doing the same assignment but differently trying to review one another to see whether they are on the right track.

“We need to do this to justify the confidence reposed in us by Nigerians to be in various offices we are holding on their behalf,” he added.