The Federal Government said it’s considering bringing in private sector investors to manage Nigerian rail lines in order to render efficient services to Nigerians.
Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, the minister of transportation, disclosed this in Abuja when members of the NRC Governing Board paid a courtesy visit to the Minister.
According to Sambo, the Nigerian Railway Corporation cannot be the owner, operator, and regulator at the same time as the private sector has proven to be the engine of growth.
On resumption of rail services, the Minister said, commercial operations will resume after security measures are installed to forestall a reoccurrence of train attacks in the country.
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“We are looking at how the rail lines can be safe by putting 24 hours surveillance and immediate response apparatus. The security measures will include short and long-term plans, with the short-term plans taking effect from November,” he said.
The Minister further said the ministry would soon launch a National Transportation Policy that will articulate a seamless transportation system for the country.
Earlier, Ibrahim Alhassan Musa, the chairman of the NRC Board, said the Railway Corporation is running at a loss due to the high cost of diesel, and the cost of running the trains.
He called on the Minister to intervene as the Railway Service is one of the things the present Administration prides itself on, especially the Lagos-Ibadan, the Warri-Itakpe, and the Abuja-Kaduna railway lines.
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