The House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport has summoned the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, and Timothy Zalanga, Managing Director of Railway Property Management Company Limited, to appear before it regarding the operations of the NRC and the management of its nationwide assets.

The summons follows a resolution passed by the committee during a recent meeting. Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Blessing Onuh, clarified that the invitation is not a witch-hunt but a necessary move to ensure that the NRC and its subsidiary perform in line with expectations and national interest.

During the session, several lawmakers raised concerns over the alleged mismanagement and indiscriminate sale of NRC properties, with reports emerging that pensioners and staff are being evicted from NRC staff quarters, allegedly to facilitate questionable property deals.

Onuh emphasized that the committee’s actions are backed by the oversight powers granted under Sections 88, 89, 128, and 129 of the Nigerian Constitution. She pledged that under her leadership, the committee will not turn a blind eye to misgovernance in the transport sector.

As part of its probe, the committee has directed the NRC and Railway Property Management Company to submit documents detailing their 2022, 2023, and 2024 budget performance, asset inventory, and public-private partnership agreements to the committee’s secretariat by Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Opeifa and Zalanga are also expected to appear before the committee on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, for questioning and further clarification.

Onuh concluded by reaffirming the committee’s commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to reform and strengthen Nigeria’s land transport system, with particular attention to revamping the railway sector.