Economy
NRC, Ogun Government Partner To Boost Rail Transport
NRC, Ogun Government Partner To Boost Rail Transport
NRC, Ogun government partner to boost rail transport. He urged Ogun to optimise its existing narrow-gauge corridor.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Ogun government have agreed to collaborate on developing a more robust rail transport plan for the state.
The agreement was reached when Ogun’s commissioner for transportation, Gbenga Dairo, led a top management team from the ministry on a courtesy visit to NRC managing director, Kayode Opeifa.
This is contained in a statement by NRC on Friday, confirming that the meeting took place at its headquarters.
Mr Dairo highlighted Ogun’s ambitious rail development plan, emphasising its commitment to integrating rail transportation as a core part of its infrastructure strategy under the ISEYA framework.
The ISEYA mantra stands for Infrastructure, Social Welfare, Education, Youth Empowerment, and Agriculture.
Mr Dairo stressed the state’s readiness to align its transport goals with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Plan, with the NRC playing a key role in this vision.
“A significant part of the plan focuses on Ogun State’s long-term goal of leveraging Standard Gauge Rail to improve goods transportation,” Mr Dairo said.
The commissioner added that the state envisions a rail system that facilitates seamless cargo shipments, boosting commerce, trade, industrialisation, and economic integration.
Responding, Mr Opeifa praised the Ogun ministry of transportation for its foresight and alignment with the federal government’s infrastructure agenda.
He encouraged Ogun to join NRC’s “Rail in the State” initiative, which supports state governments in developing, managing, and expanding viable rail networks.
“This initiative is progressing, with Plateau State set to launch its rail integration soon. Bauchi and Borno States are also in advanced discussions on their rail projects,” he said.
Ogun
He urged Ogun to optimise its existing narrow-gauge corridor while integrating its plans with Lagos State’s Blue and Red Line projects.
Mr Opeifa assured the NRC’s commitment to providing full technical and operational support to position Ogun as a model for rail-driven economic transformation.
“We assure you that whatever support you need, we will provide at no cost. It is in the national interest that all states with train networks commence commercial operations like Lagos.
“The Tinubu administration, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is determined to support states willing to develop rail infrastructure and mobility services.
“Our role at the NRC is to extend federal government investments to the states, enabling them to own and operate mass train services for their people.
“By working closely with Ogun, we aim to create an efficient and sustainable rail system to ease transportation, boost economic activities, and improve residents’ quality of life,” Mr Opeifa said.
Katsina: APC Chieftain Confident Of Tinubu, Governor Radda’s Re-Election In 2027
APC chieftain confident of Tinubu, Gov Radda’s re-election in 2027. He stated that while APC’s victory was not a “do-or-die” matter, he sincerely prayed for it due to the party’s positive impact.
Abdulaziz Maituraka, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Katsina, has declared that the party will form governments at the state and national levels in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking while hosting Katsina’s newly elected council chairman, Isah Miqdad, and his councillors on Monday, Mr Maituraka, the special adviser to the deputy Senate president, expressed confidence in the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
He also expressed similar optimism for the re-election of Governor Dikko Radda in the upcoming elections.
He stated that while APC’s victory was not a “do-or-die” matter, it was something he sincerely prayed for due to the party’s positive impact, particularly the recent reduction in food prices under Mr Tinubu’s leadership.
Mr Maituraka dismissed concerns over the defections of some politicians to rival parties, calling it a sign that they were heading into uncertain political terrain.
APC
He urged the council chairman and councillors to focus on serving the people and promoting the party in a peaceful and convincing manner to ensure victory in 2027.
Mr Miqdad, in response, thanked Mr Maituraka for hosting them during the Sallah festivities and assured them that he and his councillors would prioritise the interests of the electorate and the ruling party.
Economy
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko To Inaugurate Sports Festival As Commission Endorses Initiative: Niger Delta
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko To Inaugurate Sports Festival As Commission Endorses Initiative: Niger Delta
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko to inaugurate sports festival as commission endorses initiative. The National Sports Commission (NSC) has pledged full support for the upcoming Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), recognizing it as a crucial platform for discovering and nurturing emerging sporting talent in the region.
Dikko who is set to officially declare the festival open, reaffirms the Commission’s dedication to grassroots sports development across Nigeria. The event, scheduled from April 1 to 8 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will bring together athletes from across the Niger Delta to compete in various sporting disciplines.
Speaking ahead of the festival, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade commended the initiative and encouraged other states to adopt similar programs to enhance Nigeria’s talent pipeline.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko
“The Niger Delta Sports Festival represents a vital platform for discovering and nurturing raw talent,” Olopade stated. “We encourage more states to implement similar initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s sporting future.”
In a significant boost for the festival, organizers announced PremiumTrust Bank as the official financial partner of the event.
The NDSF aims to showcase young athletes, foster regional unity, and promote youth engagement in sports, solidifying its role as a key contributor to Nigeria’s sports development landscape.
Ogoni: HYPREP Restores Different Species Of Mangroves
HYPREP restores different species of mangroves. Mr Zabbey also discussed the project’s ongoing support for education and public health in Ogoni.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has successfully restored three species of mangroves in Ogoni, according to Nenibarini Zabbey, the project coordinator.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Mr Zabbey highlighted that for the first time, HYPREP was restoring not only the red mangrove but also the white and black species.
He emphasised that the mangrove restoration project was ecologically sound and part of a broader environmental effort that included shoreline cleanup, soil and groundwater remediation, and mangrove restoration.
Mr Zabbey also discussed the project’s ongoing support for education and public health in Ogoni.
In 2024, HYPREP provided educational grants to 250 Ogoni undergraduates, some from the University of Port Harcourt.
Additionally, in 2025, 300 Ogoni postgraduate students received scholarships, including 100 postgraduate and 200 masters students.
The project is also constructing a Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration and strengthening public health infrastructure, with plans to enhance four hospitals, including the Corner Cottage and Ogoni Specialist Hospitals.
Mr Zabbey noted that due to hydrocarbon pollution, Ogoni residents faced risks of cancer and related diseases, making health monitoring essential.
Ogoni: HYPREP
He also mentioned that 30 Ogoni communities had access to potable water, with plans to extend this to 60 more communities in 2025.
Senator Moa Ohuanbunwa, chairman of the University of Port Harcourt Governing Council, lauded the project, noting the potential of the centre to become an international research hub benefiting Ogoni, the Niger Delta, and the country.
Georgewill Owunari, vice chancellor of the university, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to continued collaboration with HYPREP for the development of the region.
-
Akwa Ibom2 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New Territorial Chairman, Exco
-
Akwa Ibom2 months agoUmo Eno Commences Payment Of 80,000 Naira Minimum Wage With Arrears
-
News2 months agoList Of 42 Executive Orders Of Trump
-
News2 months agoThe Apostolic Church Gets New National President, Executive
-
Politics2 months agoPresident Trump Changes Divorce Law, No 50% Property Shares
-
Health care3 weeks agoNiMet Warns FCT, Other 18 States Of Impending Heat Stress, Advises Safety Measures
-
Economy2 months agoEnugu-Onitsha Expressway: Many Feared Dead, 8 Vehicles Burnt In Tanker Explosion
-
Economy2 months agoTinubu Allocated N940 Billion To TETfund In 2025 Budget