Railway, Energy Corporation bills scale second reading in Lagos Assembly
The Lagos State Railway Corporation Bill and the Ibile Energy Corporation Bill on Tuesday scaled second reading in the House of Assembly.
The two crucial bills are to enhance the State’s transportation and energy sectors.
Leading the debate on the railway bill during plenary session, the Majority Leader, Hon. Noheem Adams, who sponsored the bill titled ” Bill for a Law to Establish The Lagos State Railway Corporation, To Improve Railway Transportation System and For Connected Purposes”, stated that the proposed legislation would make history in the State’s transportation development.
He referenced the Fifth Alteration No. 65 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which moves railway transportation from the Exclusive to the Concurrent Legislative List, thereby empowering states to legislate on the matter.
If passed, Lagos would become the first state in Nigeria to establish a Railway Corporation.
Adams highlighted the objectives and structure of the private-member bill, noting that Section 2 emphasizes the provision of effective and reliable railway services across Lagos State.
He added that Section 4 establishes a Governing Board tasked with overseeing the Corporation’s operations, while Sections 5 to 14 elaborate on the board’s powers, roles, and responsibilities.
The bill also outlines the Corporation’s powers in planning, infrastructure development, funding strategies, and ensuring transparency and accountability through proper auditing processes.
“This bill will set a standard comparable to global best practices.With South Africa leading in Africa with a 20,926 km railway network and Nigeria currently at 3,798 km, Lagos – as Africa’s second-largest city economy after Cairo – must take the lead in innovative rail transport solutions,” the Majority Leader said.
However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, commended the sponsor, reiterating the essence of the bill.
Obasa noted that the global trend is toward deregulation and privatization of public corporations, adding “Governments are embracing partnerships and privatization to enhance efficiency. We must consider aligning with that trend,”
The bill was subsequently committed to the House Committee on Transportation, with a directive to report back in two weeks.
The Speaker also committed the Energy Corporation bill after the debate, to the Committee on Energy with a mandate to report back to the House in two weeks.
