By Gift Chapi Odekina
The house of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Railway Corporation to urgently reopen the Ede Railway Station in Osun State
This resolution was passed sequel to a motion on “Urgent Need to Reopen the Railway Station at Ede in Osun State”. Moved by Hon. Bamidele Salam, (PDP, Osun).
In presenting the motion in the House of Representatives, the Lawmaker noted that the Railway Station at Ede is one of the first railway stations in Nigeria which was constructed alongside Agege Station, Ibadan Station, Iwo Station, Osogbo Station, Offa Station, Ilorin Station, among others.
The House also noted that, Ede is a major trading center for cotton, palm produce, yam, cassava, okro and kola nuts in the South Western part of Nigeria as the inhabitants are predominantly farmers and traders.
He further noted that being a major exportation point for agricultural products, a Railway Station was constructed in the town in 1906, which has links to Lagos State and Nguru in the North.
Agreeing to this motion in one Accord, the Lawmakers noted that, the Railway Station has facilitated trade, generated economic growth and ultimately created jobs for the teeming unemployed youth in Osun State.
With grave concern that despite the huge population and economic activities in Ede and its environs, the Ede Railway Station had been closed down for about one year.
Alleged that it was as a result of lack of sanitary facilities and inadequate electricity.
The Lawmakers stressed with concern that the closure is negatively impacting the people of Ede and its environs, and causing revenue loss to the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Nigeria as a whole.
According to the Lawmakers; the essence of reviving the Railway System is to restore and expand economic activities in Nigeria, thus the closure of a viable Railway Station as the one in Ede may be inimical to the Federal Government’s plans to expand the economy through the standard gauge railway project.
The House is worried that if nothing is done to reopen the Ede Railway Station, facilities worth several millions of Naira, comprising of the ticket office, platforms for loading and unloading, among others would deteriorate, thuscausing huge loss of revenue to the Federal Government.
The House therefore mandate the Committee on Land Transport to ensure compliance.
