Lawmakers at the House of Representatives
House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has directed Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and Railway Property Management Company Ltd. to halt sales and leases of property pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation on alleged abuse.
Chairman of the committee, Rep. Blessing Onuh (APC-Benue), stated this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Onuh said that the call followed the resolution of the committee after a meeting with officials and principal stakeholders in the sector.
She said that the call had become necessary following allegations of abuse of process in the sales and leases of the property of NRC across the country.
According to her, the committee is in receipt of allegations of indiscriminate sales and leases of the property and ejection of staff members and pensioners from the quarters, hence the need for the committee’s intervention.
The lawmaker said that plots of land and other property of the corporation that were allegedly leased in controversial manner, included those in Kano, Lagos, Enugu, Abia, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and Zamfara states.
She said that there were also concerns in the lease of land and property to individuals and groups for between 25 and 75 years.
“The committee is making efforts towards ensuring the railway sector works in support of President Bola Tinubu’ commitment to the railway project.
“What the committee is doing is in line with relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), particularly Sections 88 and 89 and the House Standing Rules.
“The committee will revisit the recent sales and leases of NRC property to ensure due process is followed,” she said.
Onuh warned the NRC management and Railway Property Management Company against undermining the Federal Government’s efforts in the railway sector. (NAN)
