NRC to start transporting livestock by rail

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), has confirmed that it will soon offer rail services to transport livestock from the northern to southern parts of the country.

NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, disclosed this on Wednesday on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Okhira announced that transportation of cattle and goods would resume via the Warri-Itakpe route.

The NRC stopped transporting livestock by rail in 2017 due to technical issues.

Okhiria said the Warri-Itakpe rail service would resume livestock transportation within one to two months, enabling herders to move their livestock from the north-central region (Itakpe, Kogi State) to the southern region (Warri, Delta State).

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He added that the NRC aims to modernize freight transportation in Nigeria.

Okhiria confirmed that the NRC had acquired special carts for transporting cattle, which were currently being assembled at its Kajola facility in Oyo State.

“We have made 15 carts for livestock, and maybe in the next month or two, the carts will be deployed from Itakpe to Warri to boost the economy.

“You don’t develop transport because you want to make profits in naira and kobo, but the benefits will be derived indirectly if we can transport goods and connect cities,” he said.

He noted that while the benefits may not be felt directly by the government, indirect revenues will still contribute to overall economic growth and development.

President Bola Tinubu yesterday announced plans for a new ministry dedicated to livestock development.

NRC to start moving livestock via rail first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.