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Front row (L–R): Assistant Director (Materials Management), Ole Apia Isaa; Director, Operations & Commercial, Akin Oshinowo; Director, Finance, Margaret Ikefe; Director, Civil Engineering & New Lines, Engr Adekunle Ayeni; Director, Administration & Human Resources, Dr Monsurat Omotayo; Director, Legal Services/Board Secretary, Obiorah Emedolibe; Director, BuPED, Oyekunle Oyewole; Deputy Director, Mechanical, Engr Habeeb Alaka; Director, Medical Services, Dr Hope Iloka; and Deputy Director, Corporate Planning, Sunday Eluede, with other Nigerian Railway Corporation management staff during the review and adoption of the Corporation’s Standard Operating Procedures in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday. Photo: NRC Media
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has commenced a comprehensive review of more than 150 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as part of efforts to improve railway safety, operational efficiency and service delivery across the country.
The initiative was unveiled during a two-day Executive Standard Operating Procedure Review and Familiarisation Retreat held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the Corporation’s Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening its operational framework through the institutionalisation of robust and practical procedures.
Represented by the Head of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence (BuPED) Desk, Mr Oyekunle Oyewole, Opeifa said the reviewed SOPs would provide a standard guide for operations across the Corporation, minimise operational risks and strengthen accountability at every level.
According to him, standard operating procedures are essential management tools rather than bureaucratic requirements, stressing that they clearly define responsibilities and guide staff on what should be done, how it should be done and who is responsible for each task.
He noted that effective SOPs would improve operational efficiency, promote safety and align the Nigerian Railway Corporation with international best practices in railway operations.
The Managing Director urged directors and other participants at the retreat to contribute actively to the review process by identifying existing gaps and proposing practical solutions capable of strengthening the Corporation’s operations.
He said the objective was to produce SOPs that are practical, enforceable and suitable for the modern railway system the Corporation is working to build.
The retreat, which began on Wednesday aboard the conference coach of the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service en route to Abeokuta, brought together directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, management staff and members of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence team.
Speaking at the opening session, Oyewole disclosed that more than 150 standard operating procedures were being reviewed during the exercise to create a stronger, more efficient and more effective organisation.
He explained that increased collaboration among departments would strengthen teamwork and contribute significantly to the transformation of the Corporation.
Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the Managing Director on Train Operations, Mr Adeife Akin Olukolade, described the SOP as a living document that must be reviewed regularly to reflect the constantly evolving nature of railway operations.
Drawing on over 20 years of railway experience across three continents, Olukolade expressed confidence that codifying the Corporation’s operational procedures would usher the NRC into a new era of operational excellence.
The Director of Operations, Mr Akin Oshinowo, highlighted the importance of railway safety and outlined the expectations for the workshop.
He expressed optimism that the revised SOPs would reduce operational incidents, improve efficiency, ensure consistency in service delivery, strengthen compliance with established standards, guarantee value for money and promote a proactive workplace where employees carry out their responsibilities with minimal supervision.
Oshinowo also assured participants that the management would provide the necessary support to ensure the successful implementation of the reviewed procedures and embed them into the Corporation’s operational culture.
The retreat also featured technical presentations, including a paper delivered by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr Monsurat Omotayo, titled “The Role of Capacity Building in the Effective Implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).”
She emphasised that continuous staff training, effective leadership, a culture of compliance and performance measurement are essential for the successful implementation of the revised operational procedures throughout the Corporation.
During an interactive session, participants stressed the need for strict compliance with the SOPs by all categories of staff.
The Director of Civil Engineering and New Lines, Engr. Adekunle Ayeni, said attitudinal change and effective consequence management remain critical to successful implementation.
According to him, a balanced system of rewards for compliance and appropriate sanctions for violations would encourage greater staff commitment to the new procedures.
The Special Adviser to the Managing Director on Media and Strategic Communication, Mr Adeyinka Aderibigbe, described the retreat as a major milestone for the Corporation, expressing confidence that the final document would serve as a benchmark for railway operators and service providers within the industry.
Similarly, the Deputy Director of Finance, Alhaji Abdullah, noted that the review process was unique because it had produced, for the first time, a comprehensive operational document developed through the collective contributions of key departments, making it practical, inclusive and easier to implement.
The technical review covered operational procedures across the Corporate Planning, Medical, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Procurement, Operations and Commercial, Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal and Telecommunications (MEST), and Human Resources departments.
Closing the retreat, Dr Omotayo commended participants for their active contributions and urged them to sustain the momentum as the Corporation moves from the review stage to the implementation of the revised Standard Operating Procedures.
