Concerns have continued to mount over the staff welfare and security threats on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) plan to achieve 100% seamless goods movement along its narrow and standard gauge lines, emphasising the Lagos-Kaduna corridor.
NRC managing director Dr Kayode Opeifa had questioned the delayed implementation of an approved 95% salary increase while assuring workers that their welfare remains a top priority.
LEADERSHIP reports that railway employees have long raised concerns about wage delays amid rising living costs. If unresolved, low staff morale could impact NRC’s efficiency at a time when it is pushing for operational improvements.
Beyond staff concerns, NRC also grapples with increasing land encroachment and legal disputes over railway properties.
Reports indicate that some land disputes involve private developers, raising questions about whether the NRC has the legal and enforcement capacity to reclaim and protect railway properties. If unresolved, this could slow down critical infrastructure projects.
However, an investigation revealed that security remains a persistent challenge despite NRC’s push for freight expansion, particularly along the Kaduna-Abuja and Warri-Itakpe corridors.
Experts warn that NRC’s freight targets could face setbacks without stronger security measures.
“Railway vandalism doesn’t just damage infrastructure; it disrupts supply chains and raises costs for businesses relying on rail transport,” a logistics analyst, Emma John, noted.
Dr Opeifa has emphasised that NRC’s partnership with the Kaduna Dry Port will boost exports from Kaduna and Kano while reducing logistics costs.
However, industry analyst John Akor remains cautious, noting that similar promises in the past have yielded limited results.
The key question remains: does NRC have the operational capacity to deliver on this vision?
As NRC pushes its freight expansion agenda, it must confront three major tests: resolving salary concerns, tackling land encroachment, and strengthening security along key rail corridors.
While Dr Opeifa remains optimistic, only time will tell whether these challenges will derail his ambitious goals—or if NRC can finally achieve the seamless freight movement it envisions.
