To fast track the Federal Government's efforts to ensure safer and faster movement of people, goods and services across Nigeria as well as reduce pressure on the nation's roads, Lots 1 and 2 of the Rehabilitation of Western Narrow Gauge Rail Line Lagos-Jebba-Kano have been completed and running.

Speaking before boarding a passenger train at Ilorin Railway Station along with the Ministers of Transport and Information, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Cooperation, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade noted that the present Administration inherited a Railway Industry that was in outright state of disrepair.

"When one reminisces into the past of the Corporation, some of the many challenges and constraints that readily come to mind include poor

motive power base; paucity of funds; dilapidated and unserviceable railway system; ill-equipped workshops; and ill-motivated workforce.

He however pointed out that "the story has changed progressively". According to him, the journey of the Corporation to its revitalization actually began in 2009 when the Goodluck Jonathan Administration, "in bits relenting political will, began commitment of substantial financial resources to comprehensive rehabilitation of the fixed and moveable assets of the Corporation".

Engr. Sijuwade disclosed that the ongoing rehabilitation programme which is completely funded by the present Administration has fortified the Corporation's motive power base through the procurement of 25 brand new GE locomotives which have been redeployed to various parts of the nation for the nation's rail transport services.

"A number of NRC workshops where major repairs and routine maintenance of the locomotives, coaches and wagons are carried out have been re-equipped and this has made it possible for the Corporation to rehabilitate over 200 coaches and wagons in the past two years", the M.D informed.

He further informed that as a result of the completion of Lagos-Jebba track rehabilitation, the Corporation, over the past twelve months, has commenced freight train services for Lafarge Cement Company Limited from its Ewekoro/Lakatabu factory to Ijoko, Oshogbo and Ilorin.

He said before the end of the year, the newly acquired 20 pressurized tank wagons with a total of 900 ton carriage capacity will begin haulage of petroleum products from Lagos to the North and this, he added, will further mitigate the numerous constraints and dangers inherent in distance haulage of such volatile products.

On the Express passenger train service from Lagos to Ilorin, the M.D of the NRC said 3 return trips are made weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, carrying about 6,000 passengers per week.

According to him, "preparations are in top notch to extend Lagos - Ilorin express train service to Kano before the end of the year.

In his remarks the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar disclosed that mass transit and inter city train services such as Kaduna MTT, Minna to Kaduna, Kafanchan to Kaduna and Lagos MTT has commenced. The passenger train service which covers a distance of over 30km was recently increased from 12 trips daily to 16 daily, carrying about 16,000 passengers per day.

"We are here so that Nigerians will know what we are doing", Umar said.

Speaking also, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku said though it was clear that progress was being made some people remain sceptical. "Today, we are going to join a passenger train moving from Ilorin to Lagos with all reporters. We will go in, we will meet with passengers and drop at Offa and the train will continue to Lagos", Mr. Maku said.

He explained that the ultimate purpose of the efforts is to ensure that next year, the train service extends from Lagos to Kano. "Our roads can never sustain development. The massive movement of goods and services is only possible through the railways", Mr. Maku emphasized.