Zaria (Kaduna State) – Sen. Olugbenga Ashafa, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, says amendment of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Bill, 2016 will propel the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in the transportation sub-sector.

Ashafa, representing Lagos East in the Senate, spoke on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

He led the committee on an oversight visit to the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria.

NAN reports that the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, had last week urged the National Assembly to pass the proposed National Transport Commission Bill.

Passengers at the Departure of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Terminus Ido, Lagos Board Omoluabi Free Train to Osogbo, for Eid-El Kabir Celebration Provided by Osun state government; Pix: Some Passengers Entering Train, on. 10/09/2016. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Amaechi said that this would enable the private sector to operate and manage trains, roll stock and have their own tracks.

He had explained that the 3,505 kilometres narrow gauges rail system, comprising Lagos-Kano; Port Harcourt-Maiduguri and Zaria-Kaura Namoda; had been slated for concession to a consortium of reputable international operators.

The minister said that this was to free the existing narrow gauge tracks from their sub-optimal conditions utilisation.

Ashafa said that the National Assembly had done what was not done in the last 25 years by considering and approving amendment to the NRC Bill, 2016.

He said, “That means we have now open-up the rail sector for PPP and it translates to a lot of direct foreign investment into Nigeria.

“Whenever you switch on your television or open the national newspapers, you will either see the President talking about rail, Minister talking about rail and legislators talking about rail, that is what we want at this moment.’’

According to him, huge revenue will accrue to the government through cargo and passengers rail, apart from simplifying movement of passengers and goods across different parts of the country.

“This movement will be cheaper, easier and stand the test of time; again, the pressure on our roads will be removed.

“We have a bad road network and that is why whatever the minister is doing or he has done now, was as if he has not done much,’’ he told NAN.

The senator said that with proper rail network, the prosperity Nigerians were yearning for would be a reality.

Ashafa explained that the committee’s oversight visit was to assess the progress work on the ongoing projects and capacity building at the NITT.

“There is a remarkable improvement compare to what we saw during our last visit in February.

“On our part, we will ensure legislative functions that will lead to productive training in the institute,’’ he said.