Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State says his administration is planning for an intra-rail system that will link major lines with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to boost trade in the state.
Mbah disclosed this when the Managing Director, NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa and the Management team of the corporation paid him a working visit at the Government House, Enugu, on Thursday.
He said the idea became necessary as efforts were in top gear by the state and other states in the region to create a common market which required the provision of certain enablers such as seamless rail system to fast-track trades.
The governor expressed delight over the efforts of the management to revitalise the NRC and restore it to its glorious days.
Mbah recalled that the revitalisation of the Eastern Railway Corridor was one of the demands made by South-East leaders and also approved by President Bola Tinubu during his visit to Enugu earlier in the year.
He pledged to support the NRC’s clinic to function optimally and also protect the Corporation’s facilities against acts of vandalism and encroachment.
Earlier, Opeifa told Mbah that the Enugu-Port Harcourt railway project was already receiving attention as one of the top priority projects of the Federal Government.
He said that the project had been getting a fair share of the national budget, explaining that he was in the state to reaffirm Management’s commitment to fostering cooperation with the state government in areas of mutual interest.
Opeifa pledged continuous synergy with the state to revamp the Port Harcourt-Aba-Enugu rail line on the Eastern Corridor since there were increasing demands for it by the people, who were mostly into business and trading.
“The whole essence of this visit is to deepen our relationship and collaboration with the state government under the administration of Gov Peter Mbah.
“I also want you to know that the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Enugu City shared a common history,” he added.
He further said that Enugu, under Mbah, was doing what the Corporation was watching out for in terms of the enabling infrastructure such as the transport terminals that the Corporation was poised to take advantage of.
“Enugu State is doing what the Nigerian Railway is looking forward to. The building of road transport terminals by the administration is what we are trying to take advantage of in our railway corridors.
“I came to discuss about it. The discussion has been on. So I only came to affirm it.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu had already issued a directive to the Corporation to fashion out mutual relationship with the state and work out initiatives that would engender a seamless transportation for economic prosperity.
While enjoining the state to take advantage of the Eastern Line when completed, the MD appealed to the governor to strengthen security around their assets, which had come under vandalism by notorious scrap dealers.
