Tunji Wusu –
In a remarkable turn of events, Mr. Fidet Okhiria, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), is set to face disciplinary action for alleged mismanagement and operational lapses on the highly popular Abuja-Kaduna train route.
To that purpose, Okhiria and his management team are scheduled to appear before Transportation Minister Saidu Alkali today in Abuja to inform him on the activities of Nigeria’s oldest public concern, the railway.
The Transport Minister announced the decision to hold the NRC MD accountable this week while on an unscheduled tour of the Abuja Train Station of the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) to get a firsthand look at what was going on at the nation’s standard gauge flagship, which began commercial operation in 2017.
The Minister added that Okhiria will personally explain his faults and explain’satisfactorily’ why he should not face disciplinary sanctions, citing recent reports of recurrent train delays, safety concerns, and generally unpleasant passenger experiences.
“It is motivated by a desire to advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.” So, based on previous experience, when the visit is arranged, they’ll be able to put some of the items in place because they know you’re coming to see them.
“As I have seen for myself, seeing is believing.” I examined the coaches. Some of the restrooms are not operational.
“I received a complaint from the security escorts that their allowances had not been paid in the last five months, and I am pleased that the MD of NRC will appear before the ministry on Tuesday to brief.” So, if he comes, I’ll let him know that the lifts and escalators aren’t operating, making it impossible for the old and crippled to go by train.
“As a result, he would explain why no disciplinary action would be taken against him,” the minister stressed.
The minister is scheduled to learn about the NRC’s performance over the last decade, where its fortunes are kept, and its future prospects.
Alkali is also likely to inquire about the state of all NRC subsidiaries, particularly the Nigerian Railway Corporation Property Management Services Limited (NRCPMSL), perhaps Nigeria’s largest property holding company.
Okhiria is expected to inform the minister of the country’s engagement with the ChinaExim Bank, which facilitated the loan with which the country acquired the busiest trunk network – the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge – a contract that the Muhammadu Buhari administration completed the Lot II segment from Lagos-Ibadan in 2021.
Alkali went on to describe his plan to quickly overhaul the railway services, saying that the escalators and lifts will be fixed and functioning within the next 48 hours.
