According to a statement of the Head of Public Communications, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) is developing a roadmap to concession the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).
It says that BPE would be developing the framework in collaboration with the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF) which had committed to fund the project and provide free technical support.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that in 2002, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) had approved the concessioning of NRC to private operators to improve freight and passenger railway services.
The document states: “The decision to reform the railways was borne out of the government desire to avoid the collapse and eventual shut down of the railways. In view of the funding challenges facing the future of rail in Nigeria, it seems the efficiency and professionalism which the private sector can bring, will improve railway operations. The railway reform, restructuring and privatisation programme was aimed at providing the framework for private sector to grow and expand the corporation.”
The statement also added that the concessioning would reduce NRC’s over-dependence on the Federal Government for funding and investment.
The National Council on Privatisation had earlier recommended the enactment of a law to provide the appropriate market, design and legal framework.
Director-General of the BPE, Benjamin Dikki said:“The funding challenges facing the future of rail in Nigeria seems dependent on the efficiency and professionalism which the private sector can bring to improve railway operations.The railway reform, restructuring and privatization programme is specifically aimed at achieving the provisional framework for private-sector led growth through expanded domestic and foreign investment; improve NRC’s ability to provide adequate, safe, reliable and efficient rail services; and reduce NRC dependence on the FGN budget by introducing private sector investment in the sector”.
The new bill seeks to separate the roles of policy making, regulation and operation and allow private sector participation and promote competition in railway services nationwide.
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