Nigeria’s Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki has begun the process of unbundling the Nigerian Railway Corporation by chairing the first meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the unbundling of the corporation, Njenje Media News reports.
The Minister while addressing the members drawn from private and public sectors reiterated the determination of the Federal Government to reform the railway system to prepare the nation for the emerging need for regional connectivity.
Saraki opined that the emergency of the African Continental Free Trade Area compels the need to open up the railway system to allow for necessary private sector investment and expertise.
Citing pressing needs to bridge the infrastructural gap, the Minister noted that the committee is to tap into the wealth of experience of private sector operators in creating four or more entities out of the present NRC.
The Minister stated that the committee will integrate the experience of other countries that have successfully unbundled their railway system in the committee work even as she assures Nigerians that the exercise will be fast-tracked through the integration of the National Assembly even before the unbundling Bill will reach the legislators.
Senator Gbemisola Saraki further announced inclusion into the committee of private sector members namely Mr. Rowland Ataguba, Managing Director of London based Bethelem Rail Infrastructure Limited; Olawale Rasheed, CEO of African Railway Consulting Limited and Publisher of Railway Business Magazine, Bernard Obika of Escher Silverman Limited and Marcus Mukoro, CEO of US-based Reliance Rail International.
Public sectors members are drawn from the ministry and other relevant agencies including the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
At the maiden meeting, the committee received presentations from Anderson , KPMG, and CPCS. The various firms made submissions on what they consider ideal structures for the unbundling of the NRC.
