The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is set to resume rail services for transporting cattle from the northern to the southern parts of Nigeria, according to NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Wednesday, Okhiria announced that the transportation of cattle and goods will recommence via the Warri-Itakpe route.
Cattle transportation by train had been suspended in 2017 due to technical issues. Okhiria disclosed that the Warri-Itakpe train service would resume cattle transportation within one to two months, allowing herders to move their livestock from the north-central region in Itakpe, Kogi State, to the southern region in Warri, Delta State.
“We aim to modernize the transportation of goods in Nigeria,” Okhiria stated, revealing that the NRC has acquired specialized wagons for livestock transport, currently being assembled at the Kajola facility in Oyo State. “We’ve built 15 wagons for livestock, and maybe in the next month or two, they would be deployed from Itakpe to Warri to drive the economy.”
Okhiria emphasized that investments in railways should focus on the social and economic well-being of the people rather than solely on generating profits. “You are not developing transportation because you want to make a profit in terms of naira and kobo, but the profit will come indirectly if we can move goods and link cities,” he said. He added that while the benefits might not accrue directly to the government, the indirect earnings would contribute to overall economic growth and development.
In a related development, President Bola Tinubu announced plans for a new ministry dedicated to livestock development on Tuesday. He also inaugurated the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House in Abuja.
