CIOTA President, Obayendo leads others on courtesy visit to Opeifa, pledges to support NRC to succeed by Michael Peters

The Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria(CIOTA), has said it would ensure the success of the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Dr Kayode Opeifa.

The National President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Prince Olusegun Obayendo, made this known when he led other management team of the Institute on a courtesy call on the NRC Boss recently.

Obayendo who commended the pedigree of Opeifa, extolled his expertise and described him as the right peg in the right hole, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made no mistake in the choice for the new helmsman for the railway.

He expressed the confidence of all members of CIOTA in Opeifa’s leadership which he said had shown forth brightly within the very limited time he had resumed office.

In his response, Dr Opeifa appreciated the recognition accorded him by CIOTA, and used the opportunity to highlight the dedication of all railway workers, whom he described as the unsung heroes of the industry to keep the wheel of railway in the country going.

He emphasized that while there are potentials to expand rail infrastructure where possible, the NRC remains committed to its core mandate of rail maintenance, ensuring that existing tracks are well preserved and operational.

According to him, this commitment has enabled him to consistently ensure that the rail stick to its schedules despite all challenges.

Opeifa acknowledged the constraints facing the sector, including logistics challenges and infrastructure limitations. However, he noted that the Nigerian government has fostered strong partnerships particularly with Chinese investors to drive rail construction and expansion.

He called for greater public support, emphasizing that the government mobility agenda is multimodal, integrating the rail with other transport systems for efficiency.

The NRC Boss highlighted ongoing efforts to optimize rail freight operations, revealing that cement is now being moved from Ewekoro to Osogbo, while plans are underway to transport cargoes from Lagos to Ilorin. He described the railway as an emerging preferred choice for cargo movement with two additional rail lines set to be activated to transport up to 100 containers from Apapa, easing congestion at the port.

Opeifa also disclosed that the NRC is collaborating with state governments to invest in rail corridors following the example of the Lagos Red Line, which has seen the development of major stations across the state. He stressed the importance of protecting the rail tracks from vandals and theft, warning that anyone caught stealing railway items would be prosecuted.

He appealed to CIOTA to champion private sector collaboration by championing the new deal that the NRC is bringing to the table and inviting investors to see the opportunities for real investments in the railway sector thereby multiplying their investments.

In their response, Profs Samuel GbadeboOdewunmi, and Iyiola Oni assured Opeifa that CIOTA would rally round him in order to prove the necessity of having a professional in charge of an agency as critical as the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

“We have written so many papers. We have defended so many theories in public for a, now is the time we have to prove that we can get this country right just by putting the right person in office in the country. Opeifa, a Fellow of this great institute is our own experiment, and we would go all out to ensure that he succeeds. Your success is our own success at CIOTA, and we shall make sure you succeed,” both had said in their brief remark.