NRC MD Seeks Greater Support for Local Engineers
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise and invest more in local engineers, noting that doing so would save the country billions of dollars in foreign expenditure.
Dr. Opeifa made the call on Wednesday while receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Engr. (Mrs) Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, during a courtesy visit to his office.
He said the resilience and expertise of Nigerian engineers had continued to sustain the operations of the NRC despite limited resources and infrastructure.
“The NRC is blessed with the best of our local engineers. They have great work ethics and despite the absence of necessary tools, they continue to use their knowledge, blood and sweat to keep the railway system working,” he stated.
According to him, the ingenuity of the corporation’s engineers has saved Nigeria significant foreign exchange, as they have continued to develop solutions internally to keep the rolling stock functional.
Dr. Opeifa noted that NRC engineers have consistently demonstrated competence in building tracks, fixing locomotive engines and maintaining critical rail infrastructure. He added that both male and female engineers at the corporation have proven their capacity in their various specialties.
He cited major operations such as the handling of the Kaduna train attack and the recent incident at Asham, saying that NRC engineers took charge of the recovery efforts without the need for external contractors.
“Our engineers—civil, mechanical, electrical, signals and telecommunications—have shown the capacity to keep this corporation running. Their commitment has helped the country avoid huge contract costs,” he said.
The NRC boss appealed to the NSE to continue to push for increased government support and funding for local engineering development, expressing confidence that Nigerian engineers can compete globally with the right backing.
He also noted that the amendment of the NRC Act, which moved railways from the Exclusive to Concurrent Legislative List, has increased the demand for the corporation’s engineers by state governments and regional development commissions.
Earlier, the NSE President, Engr. Oguntala, commended Dr. Opeifa for the transformation taking place within the corporation, describing his leadership as transparent and focused on value delivery.
“Your commitment to transparency in railway administration inspires confidence and aligns with our goal of building a more accountable and efficient Nigeria,” she said.
She invited the NRC Managing Director to the 2025 International Engineering Conference, Exhibition and Annual General Meeting, scheduled for December 1–5, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, with the theme: Engineering Innovation for a Sustainable Blue Economy. The annual conference, she noted, attracts over 8,000 professional participants from Nigeria and abroad.
Engr. Oguntala also highlighted the NSE’s growing national and international presence, with more than 71,742 members, 93 branches and 25 specialised divisions.
Members of the NSE delegation included Engr. Odunayo Bamodu, Engr. Dr. Uche Obiajulu, Engr. Femi John Adedotun, FNSE, Engr. Iyiola Olaoye and Engr. Oyekemi Oyetunji.
