The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says it is determined to make the railway, a preferred mobility alternative across the country.
A statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos quoted Dr Kayode Opeifa, the Managing Director, NRC, as saying this while receiving Nigerian Reggae Artiste, John Asiemo, popularly called Daddy Showkey in his office.
Opeifa said that the provision of passenger coaches and wagons were top priority for the management aimed at providing convenient mobility alternative that would be affordable, safe and secure for all Nigerians.
Opeifa said he invited Daddy Showkey to the corporation’s headquarters, to brief the management on his recent experience on the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS).
The NRC boss said that Daddy Showkey had entertained passengers when the train had a short delay as a result of logistic challenges.
The managing director thanked the reggae artiste for converting an issue into an opportunity, and assured that the management was working to surmount all challenges and attract more Nigerians to patronise the railway.
“The corporation is working at developing a dedicated portal for feedback mechanism to enable train passengers report their experiences directly.
“This is to ensure that such will be taken onboard and be addressed holistically to achieve a more people-friendly train service.
“The management under me is determined to put such in place,” Opeifa said.
He commended Nigerians for appreciating the services of the corporation and patronising train services as alternatives to getting to their destinations.
“It is reassuring that celebrities such as Daddy Showkey found an opportunity to ride on our train.
“It is even more gratifying that rather than join in adding to the stress and discomfort that our passengers might be going through, decided to entertain them by singing, thereby, lifting their spirits.
“This is salutary and a welcome development for which we are very happy,” Opeifa said.
Responding, Daddy Showkey said that his invitation to come meet with the management of the corporation was a pleasant surprise.
He, however, noted that the invitation revalidated his conviction that President Bola Tinubu made the right choice in appointing Opeifa, as the NRC’s Managing Director.
“I have confidence in Opeifa’s competence in driving change in the railway corporation judging from his track records as the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State,” Daddy Showkey said.
He said that, though, his experience during the trip from Warri on the train was not pleasant, it was one that showed him very clearly that the route was very lucrative as passengers oversubscribed the trip.
He called on the corporation to improve on the online booking system, and deploy more passenger coaches and even wagons to accommodate farm produce on the route.
