FG Moves To End Foreign Dependence In Railway Maintenance
The Federal Government has directed contractors handling railway projects across the country to transfer critical technical knowledge to Nigerian engineers before handing over completed facilities to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), as part of efforts to reduce dependence on foreign expertise in railway maintenance.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Funso Adebiyi, disclosed this during an inspection of the ongoing Kano Railway Station project.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by Gift Seddon, for the ministry’s Deputy Director of Press and Public Relations, Adebiyi said railway infrastructure must be designed and constructed to ensure long-term durability, efficient maintenance and sustainable operations.
He directed the NRC to identify young engineers for an intensive, month-long practical training programme to be conducted locally. The training will cover facility operations, replacement of consumables and routine maintenance procedures.
Adebiyi said priority should be given to engineers aged 35 and below, particularly those with at least 20 years remaining in service, to ensure continuity and strengthen institutional capacity within the railway sector.
He added that participants would undergo computer-based examinations after the training, warning that engineers who fail to meet the required standards could face disciplinary measures in line with relevant Civil Service regulations.
The permanent secretary also emphasised the need to reduce the lifecycle costs of railway infrastructure, cautioning contractors against installing materials and equipment that would require frequent replacement.
At the Kano Railway Station, he rejected the use of short-life bulbs and light fittings, insisting that installed lighting components must have a minimum lifespan of three years.
He also called for the provision of customised lamp holders and mobile motorised equipment to simplify maintenance and replacement operations.
The contractors were further directed to provide mechanised equipment for cleaning the terminal’s glass structures and ensure that thermal expansion and contraction were adequately considered in the facility’s design and maintenance arrangements.
Adebiyi also warned against excessive dependence on diesel generators and other expensive energy solutions, noting that such arrangements could make railway station operations financially unsustainable in the long term.
He stressed that the success of railway projects should not be measured solely by the completion of physical structures but also by the ability of Nigerian professionals to operate, maintain and sustain the facilities.
According to him, technology transfer and local capacity development must remain integral to the Federal Government’s infrastructure delivery strategy, with technical training and maintenance arrangements treated as essential components of project completion rather than issues to be addressed after handover.
The inspection was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Transportation, agency representatives and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation and Mobility, Prince Ademola Adetokunbo Ade-John.
