SHAME: 20 Containers Stranded As NRC Train Breaks Down In Kogi State

Anxiety has gripped consignees as the haulage train transporting 20 containers from Lagos to Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL) depots in Kano and Kaduna states broke down at Mopa, a town in Kogi state, raising doubts over efficiency of container haulage from the ports which resumed last Friday, after 16 years hiatus.

Anxiety has gripped consignees as the haulage train transporting 20 containers from Lagos to Inland Container Nigeria Limited (ICNL) depots in Kano and Kaduna states broke down at Mopa, a town in Kogi state, raising doubts over efficiency of container haulage from the ports which resumed last Friday, after 16 years hiatus.
It would be recalled that the Nigerian Rail Way Corporation (NRC) flagged-off evacuation of containers by rail at the ports last Friday, when 20 units of 40 foot containers departed Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa for Kano and Kaduna states after an elaborate ceremony presided over by chairman of NRC board, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
Head of public relations of NRC, Mr. Ndakotsu denied knowledge of any incident involving the train, saying that, "I am not aware about that, I will find out. If the train breaks down, I should know as head of PR department.
On why the train was yet to arrive at its destination since take off on Friday, Ndakotsu said, "it is a cargo train and does not have the speed of a passenger train."
A top management staff of ICNL, owners of the container depot in Kano and Kaduna, where the cargoes should be delivered, said on Monday, that the containers were yet to arrive at the container depot in Kano because the train broke down in Mopa, about 330 kilometres from Lagos.
"The NRC brought a bad train to carry containers and has broken down in Mopa," he said, adding that even though the haulage of 20 units of containers is a far cry from what is being anticipated, the train break down is a big setback for their business.
Managing director of NRC, Adeseyi Sijuwade  had said at the flag-off ceremony that: "This day will go down in the annals of history of the corporation as a day we recommenced NRC's active participation in the lifting of container cargoes from the ports to hinterland and in enhancing the ports decongestion drive."
Four locomotives were also launched at the ceremony, which NRC claim was bought as brand new, but were described as refurbished by some stakeholders, who urge the corporation on honest procurement.