To boost the transformation of the railway infrastructure in the country, the Federal Government is proceeding with the concessioning of the eastern and western lines of the Nigeria Railways.
To this end, a Steering Committee was inaugurated at the Presidential Villa on Friday in order to get the job done promptly.
Speaking at the inauguration of the committee, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said that the purpose of the committee is to create a one-stop shop for the concession, fast track the process and beat the redtape and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He said the steering committee on the concession of the nationโs railway headed by the Transportation Minister, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, should be innovative, urging the members to remove whatever obstacles that stand in the way of a smooth concessioning process.
He also hoped that the committee will meet its deadlines and end up to be an example of how such assignment should be done.
Observing the challenges of bureaucratic bottlenecks in the public service delivery system in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said the Buhari administration is determined to overcome it.
Explaining the importance of the committee, the Vice President said: โI think this steering committee is extremely important, because we have tried to bring together, everybody that should be involved in this (concessioning) project in order to see to it that we deliver quickly and efficiently in a manner that justifies the Federal Governmentโs expense in the project.
โThe whole idea of the steering committee raises the issue we are trying to address, to have a one-stop shop for all approvals, objections or problems so that we can realize our target.โ He added
The Minister of Transportation said that the committee was set up to ensure the concession of the nationโs railway and is expected to submit its report in six months time.
The 20-Member Committee is composed of officials and individuals from relevant public and private sector agencies & firms.
The Terms of Reference for the committee are as follows:
โTo advise the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) on policy issues that impact on stakeholders interest;
โTo advise the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on efforts at improving stakeholders relations;
โTo advise BPE and Federal Ministry of Transportation on planning, coordination and implementation of Nigeria Railway Corporation;
โTo review existing legislations, reports, studies and any other relevant information on the railway sector and provide guidance on policy issues;
โTo review economic and financial viability of the project and recommend the level of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) investment;
โTo review the concession framework developed by the Project Delivery Team;
โTo review the technical, financial and legal framework for the successful preparation and concession of the project;
โTo review the activities of the Project Delivery Team that would facilitate the concession, guide the project delivery team in the concession process, assist the concessionaire to obtain all clearances, approvals and permit as may be necessary;
โTo assist in organisation of workshops, and public awareness campaigns on the concession process;
โTo brief the NCP and Federal Executive Council (FEC) from time to time on the activities of the Steering Committee; and to carry out any other function that will facilitate the delivery.โ
