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Federal government plans to decentralise rail system as it supports intra- city rail network at states

Funso OLOJO 

In its determination to take rail services closer the the grassroot, the Federal government has finalized arrangement to support state governments in the country to develop intra- city rail network that will engage in massive movement of people within each states.
The plan is modelled after the Lagos State rail network which operates two- coloured coded metro train of Blue and Red lines.
Already, four more states are at various stages of readiness to join Lagos as train-friendly states as Plateau, Niger, Bauchi and Ogun States are already discussing with the NRC in opening up their states for rail development.
According to Dr Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Cooperation( NRC), the Tinubu administration  will soon unveil its plans for massive infrastructure development of the railway under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Opeifa made this declaration while playing host to the Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Engr Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, who led top management of the agency, on a courtesy visit.

 Opeifa assured that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigerians will operate more new generation train systems comparable to anywhere in the world.
“The Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has graciously agreed to support all state governments develop their intra-city rail networks taking off from the national rail corridor in their state” Opeifa declared.
Opeifa lauded the Lagos State Government which through LAMATA has been operating two colour-coded metro trains (Red and Blue Lines) based on the licenses issued by the Corporation, adding that LAMATA is proving to the world that nothing is impossible.
“The Blue line is an example that nothing is impossible. That is a line that runs exclusively on electricity and LAMATA has been able to keep it in operation for two years non-stop.
” In the next five years, a lot of things will change in this country and soon, Nigerians will be able to even enjoy new generation rail system in this country.
“In our generation, we shall be able to operate all modes of modern rail systems comparable to anywhere in the world,” Opeifa added.
The NRC boss lamented that Nigeria built about 3,500 kilometres of rail tracks in 60 years and stopped for another 60 years, said this administration under its Renewed Hope Agenda is determined to put a stop to that and ensure that it sustained the massive investments of the Federal Government on rail transportation infrastructure.
He said as facilitator of trade and business , the Corporation will continue to give priority to areas that would lessen the burden of transportation on the people, reduce poverty, and bring down the rising inflation.
Opeifa said he looked forward to the time when all states of the federation will be able to run train services round the clock in their states which would lessen the burden on the NRC and make it to concentrate on freight movements.
He said he would continue to give Lagos State and other federating states expeditious approvals as this remains the only way to ensure that they would be able to take train services to the hinterlands for the benefit of Nigerians.
Opeifa, who was excited to receive the LAMATA team ,said as a Lagosian, he is determined to push the corporation to continue to support all LAMATA’s strides, adding that with him at the helm of affairs at NRC, Lagos should consider the corporation as a ready and willing partner.
LAMATA’s Managing Director ,Mrs Abimbola Akinajo ,said her team had considered it needful to pay the new NRC Managing Director a visit, because of the cordial relationship between the Corporation and LAMATA.
She said LAMATA is happy that a Lagosian and a member of the LAMATA family is now at the helms of affairs at the NRC.
“We are happy about your appointment and we are looking forward to more fruitful working relationship with the NRC.
“We are happy that both the NRC and LAMATA are driven by the passion to make rail transportation available to Nigerians.
She said Lagos State has continued to make judicious use of the licences given to the state for both the Red and Blue Line and the access granted for the Red Line to use the national corridor.
“We decided to pay you a visit and to warmly welcome you back into the transportation family, knowing that under you, the Nigerian Railway Corporation would continue to play a major role in Lagos State’s transportation initiatives, especially relating to the rail development,” Mrs Akinajo said.
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Adeyanju lauds Nigerian women for their doggedness in maritime industry at International Women Day 

Funso OLOJO 

The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has joined others leaders in the maritime industry to celebrate women as the world marks International women day.
In his message to women, especially those who hold their own in the male- dominated maritime industry, Adeyanju, who is also the Deputy President of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and the Vice President Global, International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) ,
was full praises for Nigerian Women, whom he said have taken the bull by the horn and make indelible marks in all facets of human endeavors, especially in the areas where their male counterparts have dominated over the years.
“Nigerian women have come up strongly in putting their professional expertise positively, especially in the Maritime sector, where women are already in the forefront of its administrative and operational arms of the industry.
“Today, in the country’s Maritime industry, we now see Women Seafarers running operations in various categories of vessels, sea going ships, oil & gas tankers, barges and tug – boats, as well as operating high – tech cranes at the port’s terminals within the nation seaports; competing effectively with their male folks” the union leader observed.
The NLC chief stated that the  maritime Sector in Nigeria has effectively broken the jinx of male dominance in all areas of operations both in the administration of the ports management, and as captains of industries within the sector.
He said the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria under his leadership had been able to break the barriers of gender inequality by bringing to bear the fortunes of gender equality in the sector and  give women greater opportunities to participate in all areas of operations in the nation’s seaports, oil&gas platforms and jetties, where women and men are competing favourably without fear of harassment and molestations.
Adeyanju also noted that the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) had  boosted the morales of women in the sector by encouraging their full participation in all areas in the transport sector, such as Air, Land, Rail, and Water transport, where women have also taken the lead.
“The country also have Women in Shipping (WIS), International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Women’s Wing, where women have been given the basic platforms for both operations and leadership roles in the country like their other female counterparts across the globe” he declared.
The union leader eulogized every woman in the country as they celebrate the IWD 2025, saying they have all excelled in politics, soldiering, trade/business, administrative leadership, teaching, and in all fronts of human endeavors both in the country and universally.
He admonished them not to relent in their various areas of designations, where they have proved their mettles ,so that other women coming behind will build on their legacies.
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IWD: Opeifa congratulates women in rail for their commitment to railway sector

Funso OLOJO 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC), Dr Kayode Opeifa, has congratulated Women in the Rail (WIR) on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Opeifa, who saluted the women for their industry, zeal and passion for the nation’s critical transportation sector, said his administration will continue to celebrate their contributions to the railway development in the country.
 “We celebrate the women who have chosen a career in this critical sector, in whatever capacity, either as janitors, administrative staff or engineers for their contributions, and passion for the growth of the industry.
“On the occasion of this international Women’s Day, we celebrate all women in Nigeria, particularly in the railway system for their commitment to continue to see to the development of the industry.”
Opeifa reiterated the commitment of the corporation to the welfare of the teeming workers, especially the women, even as he said everything possible would be done to continue to advance their cause.
The Managing Director asked them to continue to dedicate themselves to their various assignments and to work towards the growth and development of the railway industry in the country.
He  pledged the commitment of the corporation to continue to advance the cause of women and work towards their overall development.
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Nigeria seeks intervention of Denmark to end war risk insurance surcharge on Nigeria- bound cargo

– as NIMASA reaffirms commitment to capacity building for  Nigerian maritime journalists.

Funso OLOJO 
The Nigerian government through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reiterated its call for the end to the war risk insurance surcharge slammed on Nigeria- bound cargo by international shipping cartel.
War risk insurance in Nigeria’s maritime industry protects against losses from events like piracy, armed robbery, and terrorism.
The Nigerian government has called for the removal of war risk insurance premiums on Nigerian-bound vessels.
The surcharge was instituted by the international shipping companies during the hay days of heightened piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and militancy in the Niger Delta region of the country.
However, several years down the line, the Niger Delta restiveness had completely stopped while the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea had substantially been scaled down through the efforts of Nigerian government.
However, despite these changes and the global campaign of Nigeria to end the surcharge, the international shipping companies have refused to stop it.
However, the Director – General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, renewed the clamour of the country for the removal of the surcharge when he was playing host to the delegation from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the agency’s headquarters on Thursday, March 6th, 2025.
The Danish team has come to NIMASA to deepen its capacity training initiative with the agency.
Dr Mobereola, who was represented by Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the agency, Chudi Offodile, requested the Danish government and the international community to intervene and prevail on the international shipping cartel to end the surcharge, given the commitment and huge investments made by Nigeria to maritime security and the relative peace in the Gulf of Guinea.

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According to him, Nigeria has invested a huge resources into the maritime security in the country and the region through its Deep Blue Project that has decapitated piracy and armed robbery in the region.
Mobereola declared that the international shipping community owes the country a duty by reciprocating its gesture towards the commitment to security in the region by removing the war risk insurance surcharge.
” Given the commitment of NIMASA and the Federal government to maritime security that ensured almost zero incidents of piracy and armed robbery within the Gulf of Guinea in the last four to five years, there is absolutely no reason for the current war risk insurance premium on Nigeria- bound cargo.
” We expect that the surcharge ought to have gone.
” With the cooperation we seek with the Danish government, we expect that the war risk insurance premium and freight costs and other related issues will have to be addressed by the international community” Mobereola declared.
However, the Head of the Danish delegation, Kristin Skov- Spilling, who is the Special Technical Director of Evaluation, Leaning and Quality in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared that there is little or nothing the government of Denmark could do on the war risk insurance premium because the insurance companies are private entities.
Chudi Offodile expressed disappointment at the response of the Danish delegation team leader, saying such distinction does not make sense.
” When sanctions come from Europe, America or the international community, they come from their governments.
” But when we seek some response from them considering investment we had made and concrete achievements recorded ,they now say insurance companies are private companies.
” That distinction doesn’t make sense. It is clear to the world that we have done our bit and the world must respond” the NIMASA chief insisted.
Meanwhile, NIMASA have reaffirmed its commitment to capacity building for maritime journalists and have sought the collaboration of the Danish government in this regard.
It would be recalled the Danish government sponsored the training of some Nigerian Maritime journalists through Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre( KAIPTC)  in Lagos in 2023.
The Danish team was in NIMASA where it interacted with some of the beneficiaries of the training for feedbacks on the 2023 capacity training.
However, Offodile, who was apparently impressed by the feedback he got from the KAIPTC students, pledged that NIMASA will continue to explore ways to train more journalists in maritime security.
He said since the 2023 training, the level of reporting of maritime industry has been elevated as the trainees have brought what they learned on their reportage.
Offodile therefore urged the Danish government to continue with the initiative which he said NIMASA would support and sustain.
The Danish team will also go to other African countries where the Danish government has such capacity building programme.
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