NRC’s 90 year-old pioneer MD lauds FG’s standard gauge project

The pioneer managing director said that  all the retired staff in the train including himself

Mr Nathaniel Okoro, the indigenous Pioneer Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC),  has commended the Federal Government for  the introduction of the standard gauge train.

Okoro, 90,  also said that he was  delighted to see the progress happening  in the  train transformation   in the  country. The nonagenarian  said this inside the standard gauge railway during the Business Class Trade Ride Fun fare for Retired Senior Staff of the NRC held in Ibadan on Thursday.

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The pioneer managing director said that  all the retired staff in the train including himself had paid their dues whole serving their country.

He said; “I urge Nigerians to learn and understand the history of Nigeria to enable them appreciate the development that has taken place  from the past so  they can relate it to the present.

“I am happy to see the success of the standard gauge railway project because I was invited by  former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2002 to draw  a 25-year master plan for the development of Standard Gauge Railway line in Nigeria.

“The report was submitted to Obasanjo in 2002 and after he left  government,  the report gathered dust. But we thank God that President Buhari-led  administration resuscitated and implemented  the project.

“We, the senior citizens,  need to celebrate ourselves because we have made our contributions to the development of this country.I retired on a salary of N3,500 per month  then and that was the highest salary  then.

“I am persuaded that life is a wave, emotions build up eventually, reach a peak; and drift away. Worries, anxiety and fear come and go in a similar way. They don’t last forever even if they feel like they will,” he added.

The Director-General, National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC),  Dr Emem Omokaro, assured the senior citizens of support aimed at improving on their current  welfare. Omokaro added that she had been talking with some health centres on how they could assist  the aged and  the senior citizens  suffering from  dementia and other old-age related diseases. (NAN)