The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) will resume the 2:00 PM Mass Transit Train Service (MTTS) between Iddo and Ijoko, an Ogun State border community, as part of efforts to meet passenger demands, NRC Managing Director Dr. Kayode Opeifa has said.
Opeifa revealed this at the Iddo Train Station, where he assured passengers of improved train services.
“NRC management, being aware of the centrality of the MTT Kajola to Iddo rail line to the continued prosperity of Iddo, Idumota, and other major markets in Lagos, will not only sustain the line but work to add additional services after careful commercial market viability and sustainability studies,” he said.
The District Manager, Augustine Arisa, and District Superintendent, Mrs. Chidinma Mba, informed him that the prosperity of the Idumota market is linked to the MTT line’s operation, adding that Lagos markets feel the impact whenever the train does not run.
Opeifa’s visit to Iddo Station was part of his assessment of operational readiness for the corporation’s revitalization initiatives.
According to him, transforming the Iddo Terminal is key to the corporation’s goal of improving infrastructure, optimizing capacity, and enhancing the passenger experience.
He also assured that management would urgently begin rehabilitating the coaches and is considering installing solar panels to power air conditioning units to improve the coach ambience.
Opeifa directed regular cleaning of the coaches and warned that he would terminate the contract of any non-performing service providers.
He also ordered the installation of solar panels to improve lighting at the station and a comprehensive review of all land leases around the Iddo Station.
Expressing nostalgia about the railway’s historical monuments, Opeifa called on corporate organisations and philanthropists to support the corporation by providing passenger conveniences as part of their corporate social responsibility.
Earlier, Opeifa began his maiden tour of NRC districts across the country, starting with a visit to the Running Shed at Ebute Metta, which serves as a hub for other districts.
He praised the corporation’s female engineers and technicians, who are competing with their male counterparts to keep the nation’s rolling stock in serviceable condition.
Opeifa also directed that the corporation’s legacy buildings across the country be repainted, emphasizing the NRC’s commitment to improving its image as a leading mobility and logistics service provider.
Reiterating that there are no scraps in the railway, he warned against vandalism and noted that security agencies, especially the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been directed to prosecute offenders.
He stated that the corporation would restore as many serviceable narrow-gauge locomotives as possible and deploy them across the country to meet passenger traffic needs while the federal government continues to invest in expanding the national standard gauge corridor.
The tour also took Opeifa to Agege Station, where Station Manager Ms. Ese Asowata led him around the facilities, including the VIP lounge and conveniences. He also held a closed-door meeting with officials from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
Opeifa addressed passenger concerns about revalidating train tickets for missed intercity services and assured them that NRC would work with the ticketing concessionaire to resolve all issues.
He also directed that all elevators in train stations must be fully operational to assist passengers with disabilities. (Guardian)
