By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex otti, worried with the slow pace of work as regards the completion of Umuahia to Enugu section of the rail corridor as originally scheduled,has tasked Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to speed up the completion for the benefit of the people.
The Governor gave this charge, when a delegation of the Nigeria Railway Corporation led by the New Managing Director, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, paid him a courtesy visit at his country home at Nvosi Isialanqwa, Abia state on Wednesday.
The Governor, while expressing concerns that progress had stalled on the Eastern section of the railway corridor as they were originally scheduled for completion by the first quarter of last year,
described transportation as a sector that is very important to economic development and growth of a Nation.
He expressed confident that under the New Managing Director, the trajectory of NRC work would change positively and bring the needed speed and quality to the railway projects across the Nation, especially the South -East corridor.
Governor Otti, used the opportunity to reiterate his administration’s commitment to overhauling the State’s transport sector to enhance economic activities, disclosed that efforts are ongoing to modernize the transport system in the State.
“I have no doubt that the ideas that have been on the table even long before you came on board, may have been struggling, but I believe that as you (New MD) get down to work, it would be done.
“The speed with which the other parts of the corridor were executed and the speed at which the execution is happening right now are different, but, I am sure you’ll change the trajectory very soon.
“We felt it was important to replicate the Transport system we have seen elsewhere, not necessarily in Oshodi.
“Actually, we were thinking of Paddington in the UK where you have the bus terminal, train and everything converging in a place. Paddington never sleeps, that’s the kind of business we want to introduce in Umuahia,” Gov. Otti stated.
On concerns raised about the security of NRC assets in Aba, Governor Otti assured that he would look into the issue and provide necessary support, including logistics, emphasizing that his government does not discriminate between Federal and State project but is always willing to partner with individuals or Agencies that want to bring development to the State.
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Cooperation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa disclosed that the essence of the meeting is to deepen discussions and the plans on how best to revive the Aba – Umuahia rail line.
According to him, the corporation intends to add value to the nation’s economy, by targeting to reduce inflation through reducing the cost of transporting goods and services, adding that, they have the mandate to ensure that all major cities in the South-East are connected to the national rail line.
The meeting featured a presentation on the ongoing construction of Umuahia Railway and Bus terminal by the General Manager, Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA) Mr. Kingsley Agomoh.
