N’assembly approves N530bn for rail line rehabilitation

The national assembly has approved N530 billion for the modernisation and rehabilitation of railways across Nigeria.

Adamu Aliero, chairman of the senate committee on land transport, spoke on Monday during the committee’s oversight visit to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) in Lagos.

Also present at the visit were Sharafadeen Alli, the vice-chairman, Solomon Jokotoye, the clerk, Benson Kombowei, Tony Nwoye, Kelvin Chukwu, and Plang Dicket.

Aliero said the approved bill is only partial funding, as 85 percent of the required funds will be sourced from external investors.

Also, the former governor of Kebbi state said President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to China aimed to finalise negotiations for releasing the external funding.

“Recently, the supplementary appropriation bill was brought to the national assembly, and in that bill which the assembly passed into law, we had over N530 billion which is meant to be counterpart funding for railway modernisation and rehabilitation in Nigeria,” Aliero said.

“That amount is supposed to be counterpart funding. Eighty-five per cent of the funding is going to be sourced from outside, either from China Exim Bank or from International Finance Corporation or ADB.”

Aliero also announced that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided $350 million to support the construction of the Kano-Maradi rail line.

He praised the NRC’s high standards, particularly regarding ticketing services at its stations, and commended the restoration of operations following previous security challenges.

On March 28, 2022, gunmen attacked an Abuja-bound train from Kaduna, killing several passengers and abducting 61 others.

Following the attack, the NRC suspended the Abuja-Kaduna service but resumed operations on November 28 2022.

All abducted passengers were eventually released at various intervals, with the final batch freed after seven months.

The Nigeria Police Force arrested Ibrahim Abdullahi, the alleged mastermind of the attack, on May 2, 2024.

Aliero said the NRC has restored operations between Lagos and Ibadan and connected the Ebuta Meta station to the Apapa seaport.

“We have been informed by the acting managing director that the rail line is now working from Lagos to Ibadan and that the Ebuta Meta Station has been linked to the Apapa seaport which is very important,” the chairman said.

“We have been told about the services which NRC is providing – the freight service provided from Ibadan to Lagos, Kano to Lagos, Funtua to Apapa.

“Equally important is Port Harcourt to Aba, Warri to Itakpe and other passenger services.”

ALIERO PRAISES CCECC FOR TRANSFERRING TECHNICAL SKILLS TO NIGERIANS

Aliero also praised the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for transferring technical skills to Nigerians and helping to ensure the maintenance of trains and infrastructure after the departure of the Chinese contractors.

“They are transferring technology to Nigerians to ensure that after their departure, Nigerians will be able to maintain the coaches and locomotives,” he said.

“Nigerians should also try to imbibe maintenance culture to ensure that the infrastructure are in good shape.”

Ben Iloanusi, the acting managing director of the NRC, said the Railway Technical School has been relocated to Lagos, where it is being used by the national directorate of employment (NDE) for training.

“Apart from training for railway staff, external people also do undertake trainings there,” Iloanusi said.

“We run a three-year course for railway people which is equivalent of a diploma. We are trying to bring in more courses into the system.

“We are also helping out Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and the Lagos State generally in terms of training.”

Aliero welcomed the recent development allowing states to establish their rail lines while clarifying that the NRC will serve as the regulator to maintain standards.

In a statement on October 15, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, announced the commencement of commercial operations on the red line rail.

Sanwo-Olu said the service is expected to carry about 500,000 passengers daily along the corridor.

Tinubu flagged off the metro rail operations on May 29 and approved free rides on the Abuja metro rail to the end of 2024.

The president said the gesture will “give the people hope and reason to celebrate”.