Reps Scrutinizes NRC’s Projects, Procureme
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has come under scrutiny from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Asset and Special Duties, which has demanded comprehensive documentation on all Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements within seven days.
The ultimatum follows a public hearing in Abuja aimed at assessing the performance of the corporation’s PPP programmes and concessions.
Committee Chairman, Rep. Ademorin Kuye (APC-Lagos), emphasized the need for transparency, requesting documents on agreements, income profiles, remittances to the Special Concession Account, and details of advertised concessions.
He also sought explanations for significant budget allocations from 2021 to 2023, including ₦74 billion for railway tracks in 2022 and ₦69 billion for rail line rehabilitation the same year.
In addition to financial inquiries, Kuye called for a report on a viral video allegedly showing theft of assets from train stations in various states, including Niger, Bauchi, Nasarawa, and Lagos. He pledged to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Acting NRC Managing Director, Benjamin Iloanusi, apologized for the delay in submitting the requested documents, attributing it to miscommunication. He appealed for more time to compile the information and requested the committee share the viral video to aid internal investigations.