NRC willing to partner with major movers of large containers from across the country

By Afolabi Oyekunle.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa has assured the Inland containers Nigeria Limited, Kaduna, on seamless movement of containers by rail from Apapa Port, to Kaduna and further Kano, as he expressed the Corporation preparedness to partner with others stakeholders in moving large containers from accross the country.

He made this assertion while receiving the Management Team of the ICNL, led by the Managing Director Mr Omotayo Dada, at the NRC headquarters Ebute Metta, Lagos, on Tuesday.

From right; Managing Director Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director Inland Containers Nigeria Ktd., Mr Omotayo Dada, and the Head of Commercial Services, Mrs Odetunde King Abigail, during the courtesy call

The visit was sequel to one by the NRC Managing Director, to ICNL headquarters in Kaduna, which paved the way for discussion on the resumption of container movement by rail to Kaduna.

Opeifa who said the corporation is willing to partner with major movers of large containers from across the country added that only recently, the NRC entered into a partnership with APMT for the movement of containers from Apapa to the Inland Dry Port in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the corporation would continue to design products for companies willing to use the rail to move its cargoes, adding that with the ICNL partnership, the corporation hopes to move additional 50 to 100 containers per day from Lagos to Kano via, Apapa, Ijoko, Ilorin, Minna, and Kaduna.

Earlier, the Director of Operations and Commercial of the corporation, Mr Akin Osinowo, said the corporation is in talks with many manufacturers, including the Dangote Group of Companies and BUA, among others.

He added that the NRC still continues to service Lafarge, taking cement consignments from Ewekoro to Osogbo and Ilorin.

He however said any company or terminal operator partnering with it are meant to add value to rail movement by using their size and stature to prospect new customers in order to boost the railway’s haulage capacity.

He said the ICNL is a long standing customer of the corporation, adding that some of the factors that led to the stoppage of cargo movement especially on the narrow gauge are being addressed.

He said issues such as insecurity, especially between Minna and Kaduna, and the washouts of several portions of the rail tracks among others, are being aggressively addressed either by the corporation’s team of engineers or by the Federal Government.

The NRC Management and that of ICNL expressed commitment to continue their engagement and draw a road map for quick commencement of container freight to as far as to Kaduna and Kano on the western line.

Comments

Omisande: CPS Pensioners in Lagos State assured of payment of their increase pension benefits as their Federal counterparts.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) in Lagos State have been urged to be patient concerning their much awaited increases, as there are assurance that all what they are entitled to will be paid earlier next year. This assurance is coming from the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme, NUPCPS, Lagos State Council, Comrade Michael Omisande. Comrade Omisande who spoke to ForumNews at the sideline of the end of year get together of Agege Zone Pensioners said what is delaying is the Template which is being awaited Comrade Omisande said just as the Federal workers who have started receiving their own entitlements, all Pensioners under the scheme in other five states will receive their own as approved by the Federal government. According to him, the PFA'S have been given till 20th December to pay all Federal Pensioners. He said after the completion of the Payment, PenCom will ther...

PenCom urges Lagos State Governor to extend periodic pension increase to retirees under CPS, as Sanwoolu welcomes the idea.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has called on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to extend periodic pension increases currently enjoyed by Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) retirees to those under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to boost their monthly pensions. The Director General of PenCom, Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, made the request during a courtesy visit to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State Government House on 7 May 2025. The visit was to present the report of PenCom’s 2024 routine inspection of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and to thank the Governor for confirming his participation as Special Guest at the Pension Industry Leadership Retreat starting 8 May 2025. PenCom DG pointed out that currently, only DBS retirees are paid pension increases in Lagos State, leaving out their counterparts under the CPS. DG PenCom Ms Oloworaran with Gov Sanwoolu who presented her with Lagos State plaq...

PENCOM pledges to see that Lagos State pays CPS retirees.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Director General of National Pension Commission, Ms Omolola Oloworaran has pledged that the Commission will fast track and work towards Lagos State government paying retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme what is due to them like their federal counterparts. She made the pledge at a media workshop in Lagos for journalists. The Director General was surprised when she was asked why the Template for the payment was not released to Lagos State government for the payment of backlog of areas and allowances as approved by the Federal government, which Federal retirees are currently enjoying. PenCom DG, Omolola Oloworaran She thereby directed her staff to work on the Lagos State matter to settle the matter towards making the Lagos State government have all the necessary information needed to pay the retirees. The PenCom Director General noted that Lagos State government was one of the few states that keyed into the progra...

Search This Blog