RAILWAYMAN

 Plus: New Branch Lines to Owerri; Bonny;  Damaturu; and Gashua   Cost of project is 3.02 Billion Dollars Industrial Park and Bonny Deep Sea Port to be established to serve the railway The North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-South people of Nigeria have not stopped rejoicing since the Honourable Minister of Transportation in Nigeria, Rotimi Amaechi announced the decision of the Federal Executive Council(FEC) to approve the award of contract for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the narrow gauge line on the from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri with new branch lines and transshipment facility.  Amaechi, speaking to the press after last Wednesday's FEC meeting on October 7,2020 said the PH-Maiduguri line project will be at the cost of $3,020,279,549. According to the Minister, the Eastern Rail Line will have new branch lines: from Port Harcourt to Owerri, and from Port Harcourt to Bonny; and from Gombe or a station near Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashu...

It is no longer a rumour. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointement of Engr. Fidet Freeborn Edetalaen Okhiria has been re-appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC) for another four year tenure with effect from October 20, 2020. Even before the news of the presidential approval started filtering in, there were already high expectations by the railway community and other stake holders for Engr. Okhiria who is described as hard working and energetic and has proven his worth for position of NRC MD, be given the opportunity to establish a modernised rail system in Nigeria. " It is a well deserved gesture from PMB. Everybody sees how he has buried himself completely into the standard gauge projects and we all can see that he is delivering. He is the right person Amaechi and Buhari needs to achieve their agenda for the building of new railway lines. Another person may not have his kind of drive and finis." Says...

Innocent Luka Ajiji has never allowed his successes in life to get into his head. Despite rising to the position of President - General of Nigerian Union of Railways and holding various offices at the international level of trade unionism, he has remained his very unassuming self. He is still that son and community boy to many, including those he caters for. This president of NUR has recorded a number feats since he took over the presidency of the union following the retirement of his predecessor in 2018. One of the qualities he has going for him is his leadership style of carrying workers along and giving international training opportunities which he should have kept to himself to other leaders and members of NUR. You will know more about Innocent in some subsequent reports. But of course, Comrade Ajiji's good deeds are not hidden. That is why he keeps getting recognition from various bodies.Only last Monday October 5, 2020, the Northern Youth Association of Nigeria awarded him th...

Amaechi speaking during a TVC programme says  Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Line will be commissioned in January 2021 Passenger service on Cetral Rail to commence fully in a week Frowns against notion that cost of rail contracts are being inflated; insists that cost of rail construction in Nigeria which is $4.5m per kilometre is cheaper than in Europe and other places Maintains that trains and rail lines are very safe and secured by Police, NSCDC and Airfoce   Nigeria's Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, GCFR has disclosed that the Lagos - Ibadan Train would commence operations in January 2021. Amaechi who was guest on a TVC morning programme on Friday October 2, 2020 also said baring unforeseen setbacks, the line will formally be commissioned  and opened to traffic in January, as the project is more than 90 percent completed, except the additional work of extending the line from Ebute-Metta to Apapa which is expected to be completed by the end of December...