•   Promises workers payment of enhanced allowances

The new Minister for Transportation Sen. Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali left Lagos with a determination to see to the removal of the Customs building obstructing the standard guage to Apapa Ports.

He also gave the Nigerian Railway Corporation three weeks to complete the operationalization of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Train Station at Apapa.

He gave these commitments during a meeting with the management and leaders of the Nigerian Railway Workers association which held at the  Boardroom, of the Corporation’s headquarters, where he assured that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is committed to the railway modernisation masterplan.

 The Customs building had escaped demolition for four years, defying two substantive ministers. Customs sources said the building had installed, radioactive equipments which may constitute health hazard if haphazardly demolished.

Alkali said the discovery that the building was still standing afterall ” requires urgent executive action.”

He said it is unfair that the building is preventing the completion of two standard gauge lines to convey containers from Lagos to Kano within three months.

Alkali, drew a loud cheer from the National Union of Railway Workers (NUR), when he pledged the commitment to ensuring the payment of the long unimplemented presidential approval for the upward review of their special allowances.

“I am assuring you that through personal contact and using administrative machineries, I will reach out to the acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service Adewale Adeniyi, and the Chairman National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission to facilitate removal of the Customs building at APTM and ensure speedy implementation of the presidential approval of increased special allowances for Railway workers,” he said.

The Minister commended the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the rail wagon assembly plant at Kajola, Ogun State, which is already assembling some wagons, asking that the plant should go into the container and coach assembly to boost the economic activities especially with the expansion of rail projects in the country.

He demanded that the Nigerian Railway Corporation Property Limited which is the corporation’s subsidiary should provide comprehensive data of the corporation’s real estate assets that would enrich decision making.

He assured the NRC management of the support it the ministry towards the realisation of it’s statutory functions, just as he warned all it’s contractors handling all ongoing projects scattered across the country to comply with the contractual agreements.

The NRC Managing Director Fidet Okhiria while welcoming the Minister urged him to help find a lasting solution to the insecurity and vandalisation of  critical railway infrastructure.

Okhiria who lauded the efforts if the various security agencies for securing the corporation’s facilities and valued passengers by arresting and prosecuting offenders.

He urged the Minister to deploy his wealth of experience as a former federal lawmaker to achieve the railway’s modernisation, which given traction by the last administration.

Okhiria commended the Minister for visiting the Idu Train Station at Abuja, which he admitted spurred the corporation “to be more proactive, and showed the Minister’s commitment to safe, clean, effective and comfortable train services to the Nigerian people.”

The NUR National President Comrade Innocent Ajiji, said the entire workforce is happy to hear that their enhanced allowances would be given accelerated consideration.

He said: “We do not want to be embroiled in any court matters with you and we are very happy with your assurances that you will help resolve all issues delaying the payment of all our allowances. We on our part assure you if the commitment of all railway workers to the overall growth and development of this great corporation.”