FG INAUGURATES COMMITTEE ON CONCESSION OF NIGERIA RAILWAY

The federal government has inaugurated a steering committee on the concessioning of the eastern and western lines of railways.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who inaugurated the committee at the Presidential Villa, said it was aimed at creating a one-stop shop for the concession, fast-tracking the process and beating red tape and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The committee’s terms of reference include advising the National Council on Privatisation on policy issues that impact on stakeholders’ interest; advising the Bureau of Public Enterprises on efforts at improving stakeholders’ relations; reviewing existing legislations, reports, studies and any other relevant information on the railway sector and providing guidance on policy issues.

The vice president charged the committee, chaired by Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, to be innovative and remove all obstacles to a smooth concessioning process. “The whole idea of the steering committee raises the issue we’re trying to address; to have a one-stop shop for all approvals, objections or problems so that we can realize our target,”Osinbajo stated.

Amaechi said the 20-man committee was expected to submit its report in six months’ time.