By: TUNDE BOLAJI, MINNA.
Plans are on the way by the Nigeria Railway Corporation to resume activities on its Minna-Kaduna route, it has been revealed.
The newly appointed Regional District Manager, Nigerian Railway Corporation, North Western District, Engr. Ilesanmi Ayokunle Lawrence drops this hint during a courtesy visit to His Royal Highness, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago, the Emir of Minna, in his palace.
The RDM went on, “We will absorb more people to join us, and then we’ll be able to go on with training, and then traffic on the road will drastically reduce.”
Accompanied by his management staff and some other supporting staff, he stated that due to the insecurity bedeviling the Northern part of the country and vandalization of the railway tracks the Corporation is ready and interested to revive the rail line from Minna to Kaduna and that he is optimistic that with the leadership of Dr. Kayode Opeifa, who has brought a new wave to the Nigerian railway, activities within the Corporation will soon pick-up. “We are very optimistic.
He’ is a visionary and a transformational leader.“ He has brought a lot of changes, even when he was in Lagos State and the FCT in Abuja, with his leadership and encouragement to bring about railways in Nigeria.” Engr. Ilesanmi stated.
The District Manager affirmed that he visited the emir because there’s no way the Railway can move forward without associating with the traditional rulers and that they want the issue of vandalization of the rail track to stop,
“We want to start running trains because Minna is the head of agriculture; when we talk in the northwestern district and we want to align with them that the trains are coming back soon and we want their cooperation and support,
“We also want all the markets and farmers to start to patronize us and move their farm produce through our trains.”
He said that the Federal Government plans to bring back the Minna -Kaduna rail line to function effectively.
Engr. Ilesanmi Ayokunle Lawrence said that with the cooperation of the governor, who, a while back, had paid a visit to the railway headquarters, assurances were given that the Minna rail line will bounce back in terms of rail transportation.
Fielding questions from journalists on insecurities within the District, the District Manager affirmed that in sincerity, the insecurity had affected the organization adversely, especially around the Sarkin Pawa axis and some other locations where they were not able to access or even know the state of the track.
But in collaboration with the security apparatus, the Police, Civil Defense, Niger Guards, and some of their private security that were employed, adding that the state government also promised them security.
“We all know that the state governor is the chief security of the state, and he has promised us his support, and we are sure we will be able to access our tracks.
“And once the tracks are viable, then we will be able to move a safe train on our track.” He added.
Engr. Ilesanmi added that the trains and locomotives are available, and that despite multiple challenges and being trapped in disaster, once the track is accessible again, the locomotives will be available for our transport.
In his response, the Emir of Minna, His Royal Highness, Dr. Umar Farouk Bahago assured the new District Manager and his entourage of the Emirate’s support and cooperation to ensure smooth operations of the Organization.
The Emir expresses his gratitude for the visit and that they have full hope that the railway will bounce back to regain its past glory so that the common man will benefit from its services.
