Container movement by rail to Kaduna, Kano to resume soon – NRC boss

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Dr Kayode Opeifa has assured Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL) of seamless container movement by rail from Apapa Port to Kaduna and further to Kano.

He made this assertion on Wednesday while receiving the Management Team of the ICNL, led by its Managing Director, Mr Omotayo Dada, at the NRC headquarters in Ebute Metta, Lagos.

The visit was sequel to one by the NRC Managing Director, to ICNL headquarters in Kaduna, which paved the way for discussion on the resumption of container movement by rail to Kaduna.

Opeifa who said the corporation is willing to partner with major movers of large containers from across the country added that only recently, the NRC entered into a partnership with APMT for the movement of containers from Apapa to the Inland Dry Port in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the corporation would continue to design products for companies willing to use the rail to move its cargoes, adding that with the ICNL partnership, the corporation hopes to move additional 50 to 100 containers per day from Lagos to Kano via, Apapa, Ijoko, Ilorin, Minna, and Kaduna.

Earlier, the Director of Operations and Commercial of the corporation, Mr Akin Osinowo, said the corporation is in talks with many manufacturers, including the Dangote Group of Companies and BUA, among others.

He added that the NRC still continues to service Lafarge, taking cement consignments from Ewekoro to Osogbo and Ilorin.

He however said any company or terminal operator partnering with it are meant to add value to rail movement by using their size and stature to prospect new customers in order to boost the railway’s haulage capacity.

He said the ICNL is a long standing customer of the corporation, adding that some of the factors that led to the stoppage of cargo movement especially on the narrow gauge are being addressed.

He said issues such as insecurity, especially between Minna and Kaduna, and the washouts of several portions of the rail tracks among others, are being aggressively addressed either by the corporation’s team of engineers or by the Federal Government.

The NRC Management and that of ICNL expressed commitment to continue their engagement and draw a road map for quick commencement of container freight to as far as Kaduna and Kano on the western line.

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