The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has invited the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Kayode Opeifa, as well as the Managing Director of Railway Property Management Company Limited,, Timothy Zalanga over the running of NRC and management of its assets across the country.
The decision to invite Opeifa and Zalanga was sequel to to the resolution of the committee after its meeting.
Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, Hon. Blessing Onuh stated that the invitation of the managing director of NRC and the head of the subsidiary of the corporation, Railway Property Management Company is not about witch-hunting anyone but it is aimed at ensuring that these government agencies live up to expectation.
Some members of the committee, during the meeting, lamented the management of the assets of the NRC and the allegation of indiscriminate sales of the properties without due process.
They expressed concern that some NRC’s pensioners and staff are being chased out of their apartments in the staff quarters while the properties are being sold out.
Onuh noted that sections 88, 89, 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) are very clear of the oversight power of the legislature, noting that the committee under her leadership will not watch and allow things to go in the wrong direction.
The committee directed the management of NRC and Railway Property Management Company Ltd to submit relevant documents regarding the 2022, 2023, 2024 budget performance as well as assets of NRC and Public Private Partnership arrangements to the secretariat on or before Tuesday 20th May, 2025.
While the managing director of NRC and Railway Property Management Company are expected to appear before the committee on Wednesday 21st May, 2025.
She said the committee will work toward collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure success in the land transport sector, particularly the railway transport system.
