Skip to main content

Plateau state partners NRC to restore Jos-Kuru revive rail corridor.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.




In a landmark move aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s rail infrastructure and enhancing regional connectivity, the government of Plateau State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to restore and operate the historic Jos–Kuru rail corridor. 

The agreement was signed at the NRC Lagos Headquarters,  by the Commissioner for Transportation in Plateau State, Mr Jatau Davou, and the NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa.

This marks a significant milestone in efforts to boost economic activity, reduce transportation costs, and improve mobility in Plateau State and beyond.

Speaking at the official signing ceremony, Davou, who represented the Plateau State Governor Bar. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, expressed profound gratitude to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Said Ahmed Alkali, and the new NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opaifa, for their unwavering support despite numerous challenges.

“This is not just about rail transportation; it is about restoring hope and economic prosperity to our people,” Davou noted, adding that; “we appreciate the United Nations for debunking negative narratives about our dear state and reaffirming our commitment to national development.”


From left, the Plateau State Transportation Commissioner, Jatau Davou and the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the operation of the Jos-Kuru-Bukuru line...on Monday


The Jos–Kuru line, a segment of the historic Kafanchan–Kuru route, will serve as a vital link between the Western and Eastern rail corridors.

 It will connect local communities, support farmers and traders with efficient cargo movement, and ultimately drive down the cost and duration of travel within the state. While the service will initially operate on the existing narrow gauge, plans are underway to expand to modern standard gauge networks as part of a broader national railway modernisation programme.

In his remarks, Opeifa emphasized the importance of federal-state cooperation in infrastructure development, lauding the Plateau State government's proactive role in restoring the once-abandoned rail tracks. 

“This partnership demonstrates how government at all levels can collaborate beyond politics, to deliver tangible benefits to Nigerians.

We’re not just bringing trains; we’re bringing back dignity, economic empowerment, and national integration,” Opeifa added.

He also clarified that recent reports of railway assets being stolen were misinformed. “Those coaches were not stolen. They were redeployed to Plateau where they are now being rehabilitated and put to productive use”.

Picture of Plateau representatives and NRC officials led by Odunfa. 

With the NRC committing to station a dedicated business manager in Plateau to oversee operations, the project is expected to generate jobs, stimulate local businesses, and offer new advertising and entertainment opportunities through train services.

Hr disclosed that the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Said Alkali, threw his full weight behind this project, reaffirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and pledging the full support of the federal government in ensuring that it delivered full dividends of rail services to the average Nigerians who badly needed these services.

“We will continue to rail across Nigeria—from Jos to Borno, from Aba to Port Harcourt, and everywhere in between. This is a new dawn for Nigerian rail.”

He said he looked forward to the commencement of commercial operation on the corridor anytime soon, in order to assure the people of the Plateau of the commitment of the Federal Government under the Tinubu administration to take rail transportation to all nooks and crannies of the country.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
Post a Comment
Read more