Niger State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) have reached a mutual agreement to move agricultural produce from the state to the Lagos Ports and markets by rail.

Governor Abubakar Bello stated this yesterday when he led some dignitaries from the state to the NRC Headquarters in Lagos.

Bello said the visit was to see how Niger would partner with NRC to decongest the roads.

“There are some areas in Niger State where vehicles cannot access, but trains can access such locations,” he said, adding that if the frequency of trains is increased, farmers will have access to train service, and this will help increase productivity.

“I believe that once we are able to provide access to their farm, it will make them improve their goods at a cheaper cost. The second objective of our visit is to encourage the use of railways, to reduce pressure on our roads.

“Now we have trucks carrying more than 30 to 90 tonnes. No road in Nigeria can survive that,” Bello said. He said that before now, most of the cargoes being imported were transported by rail, adding that there is no reason not to replicate cargo movement by train.

On his part, the NRC Managing Director, Fidet Okhiria, said the management has been discussing with Niger State Government on the Public-Private-Partnership with a view to delivering frequent service from Minna to Kaduna and Minna to the Inland Port facility at Baro.

He disclosed that the corporation plans to increase the frequency of its freight train service and maintenance of tracks and patrol.