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Opeifa unfolds railway revolution plans to make rail travels exciting experience among Nigerians 

Funso OLOJO 
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa, has unfolded plans by the Federal government, through the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), to institutionalize exciting railway travel experience among Nigerians.
The plans, he said, included revitalizing the existing narrow and standard gauges lines, refurbishment of existing coaches and other railway infrastructure and introduction of modern, fast- paced rail system in the country.
He further listed measures that would boost the repositioning of the nation’s legacy railway agency, prevent recurrence of accidents and return it to the path of sustainability.
Opeifa, at an interactive session with journalists, at the NUJ FCT Centre, Abuja, on Sunday, August 31st, 2025, said he remained focused on giving to Nigerians a new train travel experience either on the narrow or standard gauge rail lines.
Among other measures he outlined are institutional reforms, management restructuring, financial sustainability and deepening customers experience, all of which, he said, are part of measures being implemented under his watch.
Also outlined are measures aimed at optimizing the use of the two narrow and standard gauges, freight revolution by train, and optimizing track access by the state governments, while he added that there are efforts by the Federal Government to complete all ongoing rail infrastructure for national development.
He assured that the Tinubu administration is committed to the transformation of the railway adding that most of these initiatives are already nearing completion.
Opeifa also took time to offer a public apology for the altercation between him and the Transportation Editor of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and former National President of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Ladi Bala, as well as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Management, as well as all Nigerian journalists.
He reassured of his commitment to the deepening of the media space and a greater collaboration with the media.
On the situation report on the train accident, Opeifa said well over 500 of the 618 passengers who traveled in the train have been contacted by the now rejigged customer relations unit of the corporation.
Many of the injured passengers, he further added, were traced even as far as to Zaria, where they were contacted by a team led by himself, the AKTS resident doctor and the NRC Abuja Liaison Officer.
The NRC chief also disclosed that the third coach has been rerailed, by men of the corporation, making a total of three coaches and a locomotive that have been removed from the scene of the accident.
He said his office is directly monitoring situation regarding the accident and urged anyone who knows any of the passengers who are receiving treatment in any hospital to come forward as the corporation is committed to taking care of their medical bills apart from refunding them their travel fares.
He maintained that the Abuja -Kaduna Train Service is safe and secured and assured Nigerians of the determination of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the NRC to restore the tracks and recommence commercial operation on the line as soon as possible.
He said the Corporation is poised to strength it’s institutional restriction, optimizing what it has, with more public sector participation in rail development, and repairing and refurnishing all abandoned locomotives and fixed and rolling stocks, and embarking on aggressive freight by railing revolution which is gaining rapid momentum.
Other initiative are building more collaborations with development commissions and states to adopt the Track Access Program to create interstate train services for the use of more Nigerians and the continued modernisation of its infrastructure.
Opeifa reiterated that while the Asham incident is a sad development, it has further reinforced his commitment to continue to push forward the realization of the corporation’s vision 5:10:20, which ultimately would ensure the realization of the use of renewable energy for operations, moving from diesel to gas, and the introduction of high speed train into the nation’s transportation system, with a huge Public Private Participation arrangement to deepen sustainability.
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Aviation

FAAN resumes toll collection at Airports, adopts hybrid payment method 

Gloria Odion, Reporter
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria(FAAN) have resumed collection of toll at all its toll plazas located at the airports in the country, including Murtalar Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The toll suspension arose from the chaos which the new cashless payment method introduced by FAAN recently generated which resulted in long queues of motorists at these facilities.
This development has raised public outcry which necessitated the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who directed the suspension of the cashless payment system.
However, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has directed the resumption of toll collection at all these plazas.
In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Tunde Moshood, the Minister declared that a hybrid access gate payment should be adopted by FAAN at the toll gates located at the Airports in the country.
“Following the earlier suspension of the full cashless Access Gate payment system as directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu due to the traffic gridlock it created, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development met with officials of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and senior officials of the Ministry.
“After reviewing the initial implementation and the operational challenges observed, the following decisions were reached:
” The Ministry has resolved to engage concessionaires in order to introduce a fully automated or electronic system at all access gates at our airports in order to fully and eventually eliminate cash payments.
” In the meantime, a hybrid payment system that accommodates both cash and card payments will resume at all airport access gates with effect from Friday, March 13, 2026.
” Motorists who already possess FAAN Go Cashless Cards may continue to use them until further notice.
“Other electronic payment options, including POS terminals and other approved digital channels, will also remain available.
“Members of the public and road users are encouraged to obtain and use the FAAN Go Cashless Card as the Authority continues to enhance and fully optimise the cashless payment system.
“This directive restores the previous access  gate payment arrangement whilst the Ministry continues to work on the fully automated or electronic system” the statement concluded.
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NPA shines as Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 at Champions newspaper Awards ceremony 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has won another award as the Outstanding Agency of the Year 2025 conferred on the agency by Champions Newspaper at its 2025 Awards ceremony held in Lagos.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Managing Director of the Authority, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, described the award as recognition of Danthoso  vigorous leadership in implementing smart initiatives that align with the NPA’s vision to become the Maritime Logistics Hub for Sustainable Port Services in Africa.
The NPA MD highlighted the invaluable support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, which he said has been instrumental in achieving these remarkable successes.
According Dantsoho, some of the key remarkable performances of NPA include sustained port efficiencies, which contributed  to Nigeria’s year-on-year trade surplus of ₦7.5 trillion and ₦6.7 trillion in Q2 and Q3 2025 (per NBS and NESG reports), driven mainly by exports via NPA platforms.
He also mentioned the successful execution of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy for crude and petroleum product sales in Naira, saving billions in FOREX, enhancing energy security, improving trade balance, and creating jobs.
Others include completion of Nigeria’s membership in the International Port Community System Association (IPCSA), paving the way for the National Single Window (NSW) project, technical guidance enabling a significant rise in transhipment cargo at Lekki Deep Seaport, serving landlocked neighbours and recovering cargo lost to competing ports.
Another achievement made under the leadership of Danthoso was his electorial victory as the President of the Port Management Association of West & Central Africa (PMAWCA), with Dr. Dantsoho also leading PAPC, boosting Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and securing re-admission to IMO Category C.
Champions Newspaper conferred the award in appreciation of NPA’s pivotal role as a leading trade facilitation platform driving national economic prosperity through Nigeria’s maritime endowments.
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Anti-Corruption Group Commends FG on National Single Window Initiative

Gloria Odion,Maritime Reporter 
The Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI), a leading non-governmental organization(NGO), has applauded the Federal Government’s forthcoming launch of the National Single Window (NSW), a centralized platform designed to integrate all transactions and interactions with public agencies.
In a joint press release, Captain Adamu Mishela (Chairman) and Funso Olojo (Secretary General) emphasized the significance of the NSW as a groundbreaking reform aimed at streamlining trade procedures, enhancing transparency, and strengthening integrity across the public sector.
Originally introduced nearly two years ago by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NSW represents a major fiscal reform intended to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.
Captain Mishela noted that MACI believes the initiative will minimize opportunities for corrupt practices, accelerate service delivery for citizens and businesses, and restore public confidence in government institutions
MACI reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public resources, upholding the rule of law, and promoting transparency.
 The organization also expressed readiness to collaborate with government agencies, private sector partners, civil society, and the wider public to ensure the NSW achieves its objectives, mitigates risks, and serves as a strong defense against corruption.
In support of the NSW project, MACI is set to hold a seminar with the theme “Tamper-Proof National Single Window” to ensure that the initiative succeeds where other reforms before it faltered.
This initiative marks a significant step toward building a more open, accountable, and citizen-focused public sector in Nigeria.
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