Reps to conduct status of inquiry on NRC, Ibadan-Lagos train fuel saga

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, unveiled plans to conduct a status of inquiry on Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) with a view to address its inefficiency, as well as the recent Ibadan-Lagos train fuel saga.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, who expressed concern over the inefficiency in the management of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) which came into existence 112 years ago for the purposes of easy and cheap movement of bulk goods and commuters from hinterlands to seaports.

While noting that NRC commenced the first rail business activities with the construction of the Lagos/Ibadan rail line, Hon. Elumelu urged the House to beam its searchlight into the NRC activities which is under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Transport.

ALSO READ FROM  NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

• After 36 Years On The Queue, 79-Yr-Old Balogun Becomes 42nd Olubadan
• ASUU Strike May End This Week —FG

“The House is aware that in recent times, there have been series of media reports of how passenger trains breakdown in the middle of nowhere for lack of maintenance thereby subjecting commuters to possible attacks by hoodlums and armed robbers who can brutalise, maim and cart away hard-earned monies and goods of innocent Nigerians.

“The House is further aware that another sad episode happened on Thursday the 11th day of March 2022, where a train conveying passengers and goods from Lagos to Ibadan came to a halt midway due to insufficient fuel, once again endangering the lives of innocent Nigerian travellers on the trip.

“The House is concerned that another of the operational incompetence of the NRC is the issue of ticket racketeering and hoarding to the public thereby undermining government revenue which inhibits target loan repayment and constitutes economic sabotage.

“The House is further concerned that this episode exposes the carelessness, irresponsibility and incompetence of the management of the Nigeria railway corporation to effectively and efficiently manage the sector.

“The House is disturbed that for a train to leave the station with insufficient fuel only to get stuck midway into the journey with traumatised and stranded passengers, is a huge national embarrassment which not only makes our nation a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community but a complete system failure.

“The House is further disturbed that the excuse by Fidelis Okhiria the Managing Director of NRC is not just laughable but points to the inability of the management to effectively conduct routine standard operational checks thereby raising serious issues about the safety and reliability of our rail services which must be seriously investigated.

“The House is worried that if these irresponsible and careless act by the NRC is not effectively tackled and nipped at the bud, it may one day lead to a major disaster where innocent Nigerians will end up losing their lives, hence the need for this motion,” he noted.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Land Transport to conduct a status inquiry of NRC and its inadequacies and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.