The newly appointed Managing Director (MD) of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has said the Enugu-Port Harcourt railway project is already receiving attention as one of the top priority projects of the Federal Government.
While assuring that the project had been getting a fair share of the national budget, the MD commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his transformational initiatives, saying the governor’s investment in infrastructure was already positively impacting the people’s standard of living.
Dr Opeifa, who stated this during a working visit to the Government House, Enugu, with a delegation of senior management from the NRC, explained that he was in the state to reaffirm Management’s commitment to fostering cooperation with the state government in areas of mutual interest.
He pledged continued synergy with the state to revamp the Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu rail line on the Eastern Corridor, noting the increasing demand for the service by people who are mostly engaged in business and trading.
“The whole essence of this visit is to deepen our relationship and collaboration with the state government under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah. I also want you to know that the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Enugu City share a common history,” he added.
He further stated that Enugu under Mbah was setting the pace with enabling infrastructure, such as transport terminals, which the Corporation aimed to leverage.
“Enugu State is doing what the Nigerian Railway is looking forward to. The building of road transport terminals by the administration is what we are trying to take advantage of in our railway corridors. I came to discuss this. The discussion has been ongoing. So, I only came to affirm it.
“I have eyes, I can see. I have ears, I can hear. So, when I entered this city, I saw for myself the difference this administration is making. I can hear from those who have lived here longer.
“Seriously speaking, this is a different kind of government. He is a businessman. He knows what he wants and he doesn’t see obstacles or challenges. He just focuses on what he wants to achieve, and that is why you can see him accomplishing all this.
“Meanwhile, he told me that what we call much is actually little, saying that many, many more will come, and I believe him,” Opeifa noted.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu had already issued a directive to the Corporation to establish a mutual relationship with the state and develop initiatives that would enable seamless transportation for economic prosperity.
While encouraging the state to take advantage of the Eastern Line once completed, the MD further appealed to the governor to strengthen security around NRC assets, which have suffered vandalism by notorious scrap dealers.
Mbah Reflects on Historical Ties with NRC
Governor Mbah, on his part, said that Enugu had an inextricable history with the NRC dating back to the discovery of coal and the subsequent transportation of coal to Port Harcourt in 1918 via rail.
He expressed delight over the NRC’s efforts to revitalise and restore the Corporation to its former glory, recalling that the revitalisation of the Eastern Railway Corridor was one of the demands presented by South East leaders and approved by President Bola Tinubu during his visit to Enugu earlier in the year.
He further noted that collaborative efforts were underway between Enugu and other states in the region to create a common market. This would require key enablers such as a seamless rail system to fast-track trade. He also revealed plans for an intra-rail system that would link with the major NRC lines.
He pledged support for the optimal functioning of the NRC’s clinic and promised to protect the Corporation’s facilities against vandalism and encroachment.
