By Olasunkanmi Akoni

The Nigerian Railway Corporation, newly appointed Managing Director, MD, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has said that his administration would be audacious to reposition the corporation for the socio-economic development of Nigeria and Nigerians.

Opeifa, a former Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation under the then administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, made the remark on Thursday, while addressing the management and staff of the NRC, during the formal handing-over ceremony, held at the NRC, Headquarters, Ebute Metta, Lagos State.

The event was also witnessed by Senior Special Adviser to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, SDG, and a former Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Mrs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, former House of Representative member representing Agege Constituency, Dr. Samuel Adejare, All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain, Fuoad Oki, retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Hakeem Odumosu, among other dignitaries.

In his inaugural address, Opeifa said, “I’m mindful that my role as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation is to represent and be the face of the vision of the government as summarized in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, the various policy speeches and document of Mr President and other authorised government documents from the Ministry of transportation and other relevant government MDA as it relate to the Rail sector and as permitted by the NRC Act and other related directives.

“My presence here is to add value to an existing vision by ensuring the NRC fulfils its responsibility to the Nigerian people under the Renewed Hope Agenda programs of Mr President.

“I will work in harmony with all staff of the NRC to deepen the National Rail System of Nigeria for the socio-economic development of our country.

“Let me state clearly that today is not a speech making day and neither is my speech here of any policy implication but an attempt to fulfill all righteousness by giving a speech as a more comprehensive vision document.

“As we gather here, I am reminded of the critical role the Nigerian Railway Corporation plays in driving economic growth, promoting national integration, and improving the lives of our citizens. We will, together, work tirelessly to ensure the corporation achieves its mandate and exceed expectations.

“We will be audacious to reposition NRC for the country’s prosperity.

“Our collective mission would be one of efficiency, safety, and customer satisfaction driven by passion and excellence.

“We will prioritize the completion of ongoing projects, modernize our infrastructure, and expand our services to meet the growing demands of our population.

“This mission will be centered around transforming the rail sector in Nigeria into a world-class, efficient, and safe mode of transportation.

“This mission is strongly aligned to the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President and the 25-year Strategic Rail Modernisation Plan, which aims to connect every state in Nigeria.”

Opeifa stressed, “The security of lives and properties, working through the Ministry of transportation with all the national security apparatus to ensure our resources, operations, infrastructure and customers are very safe and secured.

“Modernization and Expansion. Working with the Ministry of Transportation, our supervising authority, the various sub-national governments, relevant MDAs, stakeholders, and the organised private sector. w will focus on the upgrading of existing rail infrastructure, expanding the present rail networks, and introducing new technologies to improve efficiency and safety.

“Increase connectivity: arising from the above, we will also improve/expand connectivity to major cities, ports, and economic hubs through rail links, promoting economic growth and development.

“Service Excellence. We will prioritize customer satisfaction by improving customer experience, ensuring that our services are reliable, efficient, safe and sustainable, capacity building, accelerating project completion, enhanced private sector participation, create a more conducive and enabling environment to depeen existing private sector participation.

Others include: Improve on the commercial aspect of operations for improved revenue, rail sector contribution to GDP to work extra hard to increase the rail sector contribution to the Transportation sector and National GDP, collaboration for service delivery.”

The new boss, therefore expressed gratitude to God for the grace to be appointed among many qualified persons.

Opeifa continued, To Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I say a very big Thank you, I am grateful and will by the grace of the Almighty deliver.

“I am grateful for the trust and confidence reposed in me to lead this vital institution, which is one of the oldest and most impactful in the history of our great nation.”

He also expressed appreciation to the Minister of Transport, Senator Umar Alkali for his continued leadership of the Ministry and the NRC most especially as witnessed in the las 15 months and personally by himself in the last 10 days.

Opeifa also acknowledged his predecessor, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, who was absent due to health reason, described him as “a good friend whom I worked with as FCT mandate Secretary for Transportation and also as a member of the immediate NRC Governing Board (his support was instrumental to the commencement of the Abuja Rail Mass Transit when I was Mandate Secretary) for his dedication and service to the corporation and to our nation, Nigeria.”

He finally, thanked the entire NRC team for their hard work and commitment. “I look forward to working with each and every one of you to achieve greatness.

“To the people of Nigeria, I promise to be a responsible steward of the resources entrusted to me. I will ensure transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in our decision-making processes.

“I will work with my team to ensure the NRC and the Nigerian Rail sector is repositioned for more greatness,” Opeifa promised.

A symbolic handover ceremony was subsequently carried out by Okhiria through his representative, a director in the office.

Orelope-Adefulire, in her brief address, expressed confidence in the capability of the new NRC boss to reposition the corporation for greatness.

He reminded the new boss to se his appointment as a challenge to contribute his quota to the development of the country, saying, “the reward for hard work is more work.”

A thanksgiving and reception ceremony was later held in Opeifa’s honour, held at his Constituency, Mulero, Agege area of the stat where party amd community leaders attended in their large number to pay allegiance to the new leader of the area.