The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has praised the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for the rapid improvements in rail service under managing director Kayode Opeifa. The commendation came during a train journey from Abuja to Kaduna on Tuesday, where NIPR members were conveyed to their annual general meeting. NRC spokesman Callistus Unyimadu confirmed the event, stating that the train was largely occupied by NIPR members who described the staff's service as impressive. The professionals highlighted enhanced management and service delivery, urging the federal government to maintain investment in rail infrastructure. They noted that while railway development requires significant funding, it can yield quick returns when properly managed.
A traditional ruler, Jacob Adetayo Haastrup, credited President Bola Tinubu for appointing Opeifa and his team, saying the NRC had demonstrated capacity for national development in a short time. Lagos NIPR chairman Samuel Ayetutu said members chose rail travel to support ongoing reforms and avoid road insecurity. He advocated for nationwide expansion of rail networks to improve mobility and offer commuters viable alternatives. The Kaduna conference, scheduled to end on April 24, aims to prepare participants for an upcoming global public relations conference in Nigeria.
Kayode Opeifa's management is credited with transforming NRC services, yet the praise comes only after a select group of professionals experienced it on a government-subsidized trip. Ordinary Nigerians who cannot afford alternative transport still face unreliable schedules, poor maintenance and limited routes across most of the country. If the transformation is real, it should be measured by daily commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan or Port Harcourt lines, not by a one-off trip for PR experts. The NIPR members' comfort does not confirm a systemic turnaround—only that some trains now work for some people some of the time.
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