Officials of ESER West Africa Ltd., the Turkish firm that won the contract for the rehabilitation of the over 300 kilometers rail tracks within the south east and south- south geo political zones of the country have arrived Enugu.
The Eastern Railways District Manager of the Nigerian Railway Corporation,(NRC) Mr. Paul Ndibe, who disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu at the weekend ,explained that the inability of NRC to commence rail transportation in the two zones was due to the bad shape of the rail tracks just as he appealed to retirees of the corporation to vacate their quarters to pave way for their successors.
Ndibe explained that NRC had realised that the tracks in the two zones were not too elastic for mass transit.
NRC, he said, resolved to suspend the mass transit until the completion of the rehabilitation exercise to avoid accidents.
He stated that ESER was awarded the contract for rehabilitation of Lot 3 which is the rehabilitation of the track “ stretching from Port Harcourt Kilometer 0 to Makurdi ”.
The NRC boss in the Eastern District disclosed that officials of the company had been in Enugu for over one month, adding that they were about to mobilise to site.
He stated that the tracks have already been handed over to the company, saying the expectation of NRC was that the company which won the ten months contract, would mobilise to site soon.
Ndibe, however said that the company might want to fulfill some conditions relating to the contract before commencing operations.
He stated that NRC would commence its mass transit programme in the two zones when the company completes the rehabilitation of the tracks.
On the misconception that the engines of NRC Trains were moribund, he disclosed that the NRC took delivery of 25 brand new Locos from an American Firm, adding that some of the locos have commenced operation in Lagos.
He stated that the Wagons and Coaches that are not in good shape would be refurbished, assuring that NRC was ready to commence operation in the two zones.
On the refusal of some retirees of the of the corporation to vacate their quarters, he lamented that the former workers of NRC added illegal structures to the Quarters and rented them to students.
He reminded them the Quarters were given to them while they were still serving, saying NRC would continue to persuade them to vacate the Quarters.
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