Ogbonna Casmir
The Acting Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Engr. Fidet Okhiria said plans has been concluded to commence train service at Port of Port-Harcourt in Rivers State while calling for cooperation of staff especially in Eastern district to move Nigerian Railway Corporation to a greater height.
The MD who was in Enugu, Headquarters of Eastern District Wednesday to interact with the staff and see how the district which he said used to compete with Lagos District will become vibrant again, said “I am in the district to share ideas with you on best way to move this corporation forward and i have resolved to run an open administration where all suggestions are welcomed.”
Loading ...“We tend to start very soon to run train service from Port-Harcourt Port and that is the reason we are here to check the Port-Harcourt Port probably to check the Port Manager because currently we have customer we are starting to carry coal from Igumaly to Port – Harcourt Port which the intension is to export the coal.
Okhiria said notwithstanding the access to the port, the corporation will not wait from freight the coal from Igumaly to Port-Harcourt.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, the Managing Director Nigerian Railway disclosed that plans to move food products from the North like tomatoes to the south. “That arraignment is in full gear and within the next two weeks to one month we tend to commence that traffic. We also intend to commence moving the cement from Lafarge which is to be concluded by June 4th when we are starting that movement.
He further disclosed that the Corporation will start test run of coaches on 187 kilometer Standard gage line from Abuja to Kaduna on 19th of May, 2016 and after, it would be declared open for commercial use. “The essence for the test run of coaches on that line is to ensure that it is feet for human usage”.
Eastern District Manager, Mr. Ola Adeeyinwo had earlier in his address, briefed the MD on the activities of the district.
He said the district has sustained the running of Port-Harcourt – Aba passengers train, disclosing that he had attained 75% cost running the train even as efforts are made to increase and expand intercity passengers train.
The RDM explained that the district has reached 50% ready prepared to commence the Enugu-Eha-Amufu passenger train but are waiting his approval even though there are small challenges.
The Chairman Nigeria Union of Railway, NUR, Comr. Innocent Kalu earlier in a remark, informed the MD that staff employed since last year are being owed three months arrears of salary while soliciting that those workers should be paid to alleviate their plight considering the economic situation of the country at the moment.
The workers however demanded for increasing in train serves in the district in other to serve numerous customers who delights in using train service to convey their goods within the eastern corridor.
