NRC to Resume Cattle Movement by Rail Soon
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced that herders and traders will soon be able to transport their cattle from northern Nigeria to the southern regions using rail services.
This development was disclosed by NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, during an interview on a national television station on Wednesday, following President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a new ministry for livestock development.
Okhiria stated that the resumption of cattle and goods transportation by rail will begin with the Warri-Itakpe route. The NRC, known for its passenger traffic, had suspended the movement of cattle by train in 2017 due to technical issues.
However, Okhiria assured that within one or two months, herders would be able to use the Warri-Itakpe train services for their cattle. Itakpe is located in Kogi State in North Central Nigeria, while Warri is in Delta State in the South-South geopolitical zone.
To facilitate this, the NRC is modernizing the movement of goods in the country. “When they come by road from the north, they can move them by rail to South-South Warri,” Okhiria explained.
He mentioned that the NRC has acquired wagons designed for livestock transportation, which are currently being assembled in the Kajola area of Oyo State in the South-West.
“We’ve built 15 wagons for livestock and maybe in the next month or two months, they would be deployed from Itakpe to Warri to drive the economy,” the NRC boss stated.
Efficient Rail Services to Boost Economy
Okhiria emphasized that investment in railways should prioritize social and economic benefits over direct profit. “You are not developing transportation because you want to make a profit in terms of naira and kobo but the profit will come indirectly if we can move goods and link cities,” he said.
He noted that while the indirect earnings might not directly benefit the government, they would contribute to the overall economy.
The NRC Managing Director underscored the importance of rail infrastructure investment for the public good, aiming to improve the lives of the masses and support a robust and vibrant economy.
This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency of livestock transportation and stimulate economic activities between the northern and southern regions of Nigeria.
