FG to Connect all States with Rail network...NRC MD.

By Afolabi Oyekunle.

The Federal Government will soon unveil a comprehensive National Railway Development Roadmap that will ensure rail connectivity across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Seventh National Transport Conference of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA), held at NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja.

NRC MD: Dr. Kayode Opeifa

Dr. Opeifa explained that the roadmap is designed to enable all states to access and utilize the national rail corridors at no extra cost, following recent legislative amendments that placed railway development on the concurrent legislative list.

According to him, Lagos and Plateau States are already taking advantage of this policy, while several others are encouraged to key into the initiative.

“We are saying where there is a national rail asset, states should make use of it. The line is available from Lagos to Kano. If your state is along this corridor, you can run services on the line. Lagos and Plateau are already doing this and we are open to working with others,” he said.

He further noted that Ogun and Oyo States have both narrow and standard gauge networks available for utilization, just as Edo, Delta, Kogi, Kaduna, Kano and Niger States can connect seamlessly to existing national rail corridors.

Dr. Opeifa also highlighted the ongoing freight-by-rail expansion, where the Corporation is currently moving increased volumes of containerized cargo, gypsum, soda ash, cement, metal coil and materials for the AKK Pipeline Project.

While speaking on the Corporation’s development projection framework, referred to as Vision 2-5-10-20, he stated that the NRC plans to optimize national rail assets within the first two years, transition to electric traction by the fifth year, double national rail capacity within ten years, and achieve not less than 60,000 kilometers of rail network nationwide within 20 years.

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...

Work in progress by the LSG to pay CPS Pensioners their benefits.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. Contributory Pensioners in Lagos state have been assured that the Lagos state government is in the process of paying their benefits, despite the initial delay. The assurance was given by the NUPCPS Chairman in Lagos state, Comrade Michael Omisande. NUPCPS Chairman Comrade Michael Omisande/ LSG Babajide Sanwoolu. "I wish to inform you that we are making progress as the government is cooperating very well on the matter. I want to assure you that there is no delay tactics employed by the government and no Compromise on the part of the Union." Comrade Omisande laid the blame of the delay at the doorsteps of the Director General of LASPEC, Mr. Babalola Obilana for his incompetence and manipulation to deprive the Pensioners of their benefits. DG LASPEC Mr. Babalola Obilana According to him, Laspec was passing negative information to the government as per pensions matter in the state. "Many revelations came up as product of...

CPS Pensioners in Lagos state call on Gov. Sanwoolu, to expedite action on the payment of their Benefits.

By Afolabi Oyekunle. The delay in the payment of their Pension Arears and other entitlements is worrisome to the Contributory Pensioners in Lagos state, who called on Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to quickly take a decisive action to pay their areas and other entitlements as approved by President Bola Tinubu. Lagos state Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu. Speaking with FocusNews on the delay, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Scheme, Comrade Michael Omisande said the attitude of the Governor to the payment of the arears shows he has not got the political will to pay the money. Comrade Omisande challenged Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to come out bodily and tell the Pensioners when he is going to pay the money. Lagos State CPS Pensioners Chairman, Comrade Michael Omisande. "It is our money and he has to pay us, we are the birds that lay the golden eggs we should not be allowed to suffer." Comrade Omisande however appealed to ...

Search This Blog