Train services will be handed over to private operators, minister tells NRC board

Transport minister Muazu Sambo says there was no going back on the decision to unbundle the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). He reckons that the federal government’s plan will make railway services more efficient and effective.
“The NRC cannot be the Owner, Operator and Regulator at the same time,” Mr Sambo said. “The private sector is the engine of growth. Let someone else operate your lines efficiently.”
The minister’s spokesman Sam Idiagbonya quoted Mr Sambo in a statement as saying this when members of the NRC Governing Board paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
On resumption of the Abuja-Kaduna train services, the minister said that commercial operations would resume after security measures were installed to forestall reoccurrence of train attacks in the country.
“We are looking at how the rail lines can be safe by putting 24 hours surveillance and immediate response apparatus.
“The security measures will include short and long term plans, with the short term plans taking effect from November,” the Minister added.
Earlier, the chairman of the NRC board Ibrahim Musa informed the minister that due to the high cost of diesel, the cost of running the trains was so high, admitting that they were running at a loss.
He called on the minister to intervene as the railway service was one of the things the present administration prides itself of, especially the Lagos – Ibadan, Warri – Itakpe and the Abuja-Kaduna railway lines.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

States
Troops foil bandit attack in Kano, recover 97 cattle, 50 sheep
“Recovered cattle have been returned to their rightful owners,” he said.

Economy
Tinubu approves two road projects in Anambra
The projects are the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube/Okigwe Junction Road, both approved for dualisation.

Economy
FAAN set to introduce facial ID screening at airports
The agency said the system will enable passengers to verify their identities digitally, reducing reliance on physical identification documents at airports.

Diaspora
Diaspora remittances set to hit $1 billion monthly: CBN Gov
Mr Cardoso said reforms introduced by the apex bank had restored stability in the foreign exchange market and improved investor confidence.

NationWide
10 candidates emerge overall best as FG releases 2026 common entrance results
The 10 candidates scored 202 out of the maximum obtainable 210 marks.

Heading 3
Tinubu inaugurates $3.05 billion anti-poverty, development programmes
He said the programmes formed a single national strategy to translate recent macroeconomic gains into improved livelihoods.





