Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Audu Umar, has given an assurance that the passage of the Railway Amendment Bill presently before the National Assembly would be passed into law before the end of his tenure.
Umar, who was the chief guest of honour, gave the assurance at a three-day conference organised by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Africa Forum tagged 'Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Africa's Development' in Abuja.
He promised that he would explore his status as a former member of the National Assembly and as the current Minister of Transport to ensure that the bill was given accelerated passage.
Umar expressed his conviction in the prompt passage of the bill as the only panacea that would open the rail transport sub-sector up for the participation of the private investors.
He said that rail transport development in Nigeria would come promptly only if the enabling environment which, according to him, could be possible through the amendment of the Railway Act, was provided.
THISDAY recalled that Nigerian Railway was established in 1898 by the colonial government as Government Railway for the purpose of easy and affordable movement of agrarian products from the hinterlands to the seaports.
On October 1, 1955, it became an autonomous public corporation created by an Act of Parliament called Nigerian Railway Corporation Act 1955 with general objectives.
These include "carriage of passengers and goods in a manner that will offer full value of money, meet cost of operations, improve market share and quality of service, ensure safety of operations and maximum efficiency, meet social responsibility in a manner that will meet the requirements of rail users, trade, commerce, industry, and the general public."
The conference, chaired by Chief Adebayo Sarumi, was attended by many dignitaries and stakeholders in the transport industry. These include Prof. Allan Waller, Mr. John Dottie, Deputy Director Corporate Planning, Nigerian Railway; Mr. Francis Ehiguese, National Executive Director, NRC; Mrs. Aisha Ali-Ibrahim, FCILT, Female Member-in-Council and Chairperson of Women in Logistics and Transport (WILAT).
Meanwhile the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and General Electric of Brazil (GE) have commenced business discussions on the workability of establishing assembly plant in Nigeria to manufacture of locomotive engines, coaches and wagons locally.
A statement issued by the Assistant Director of the corporation, Mr. David Ndakostu, said that the Managing Director of the corporation, Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, made the disclosure when he received GE delegation led by Mr. Russell Stokes.
According to him, the on-going collaborative discussions, apart from availing NRC local and relatively cost-effective supply motive power base, would make Nigeria an international market where locomotive engines can be procured.
He noted that the rail transport sub-economy would receive tremendous boosts in terms of development and sophistication and job opportunities which would be available to employable Nigerians.
"The on-going railway modernisation and expansion programme of the FG would also avail State Governments and private investors the opportunity to participate in the railway development in the country. GE will benefit from such expansion programme which includes the partnership," he added.