The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has graduated 31 new locomotive pilots as part of efforts to strengthen the workforce needed to drive the expansion of passenger and freight rail services.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr Kayode Opeifa, described locomotive pilots as central to the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s railway sector, saying they would play a critical role in improving operational efficiency, safety and the Corporation’s reform agenda.

Represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr Monsurat Omotayo, Opeifa said the graduates completed more than one year of intensive theoretical and practical training designed to equip them with the skills required to operate modern rail systems.

He said the investment in human capital underscores the Corporation’s commitment to operational excellence and comes at a time when the Federal Government is pursuing reforms aimed at expanding rail infrastructure, deepening freight operations and encouraging greater state participation in railway development.

According to him, initiatives such as partnerships with state governments, the implementation of the Track Access Policy and the ongoing freight revolution will create new opportunities for rail transportation, with the newly certified locomotive pilots expected to play a key role in delivering the reforms.

“Locomotive pilots will be at the centre of these initiatives and the future of railway transportation in Nigeria,” he said.

Opeifa also assured the graduates, which include two females, that the Corporation would continue to invest in capacity building and expose them to global best practices to enhance safety, efficiency and service delivery.