By Seun Ibiyemi
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, has reaffirmed the Corporation’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and delivering improved railway services through the institutionalisation of robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Opeifa made the commitment while declaring open a two-day Executive Standard Operating Procedure Review and Familiarisation Retreat held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Represented by the Head of the Business Process Efficiency and Due Diligence (BuPED) Desk, Mr. Oyekunle Oyewole, the NRC boss said the reviewed SOPs would standardise operations, minimise operational risks and strengthen accountability across the Corporation.
From left (front row), Assistant Director (Materials Management), Mr Ole Apia Isaa, Director of Operation &Commercial, Mr Akin Oshinowo, Dieectir Finance, Margaret Ikefe, Director Civil Engineering & New Lines, Engr Adekunle Ayeni, Director of Admin & Human Resources, Dr Monsurat Omotayo, Director Legal &Secretary to Board of NRC, Obiorah Emedolibe, Director BuPED, Oyekunle Oyewole, Deputy Director Mechanical, Engr Habeeb Alaka, Director Medical Services, Dr Hope Iloka, and Deputy Director, Corporate Planning, Mr Sunday Eluede, with other management staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) at the Standard Operating Procedure review and adoption which took place at Mitros Residences, Abeokuta, Ogun State
“An SOP is not bureaucracy. It is a practical document that tells every member of staff—from the track to the boardroom—what to do, how to do it, and who is responsible,” Opeifa said.
According to him, effective implementation of the procedures would strengthen operational efficiency, promote safety and align the Corporation’s operations with global best practices.
He urged directors and participants at the retreat to actively engage in the review process and ensure the development of practical and enforceable operational guidelines.
“Review with the eye of a leader. Challenge existing gaps and own the solutions. Let us leave here with SOPs that are practical, enforceable and fit for the railway we are building today,” he added.
The retreat, which commenced on July 8, 2026, 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 BuPED team.
In his opening remarks, Oyewole disclosed that more than 150 Standard Operating Procedures were under review, describing the exercise as a strategic step toward building a stronger and more efficient organisation.
He noted that greater collaboration among departments would enhance teamwork and contribute significantly to the transformation of the Corporation.
The Technical Adviser to the Managing Director on Train Operations, Mr. Adeife Akin Olukolade, described the SOP as a living document that must be updated regularly to reflect the changing dynamics of railway operations.
Drawing from over two decades of railway experience across three continents, Olukolade said the codification of the procedures would usher the NRC into a new era of operational excellence.
Also speaking, the Director of Operations, Mr. Akin Oshinowo, highlighted the importance of railway safety and expressed confidence that the review would reduce operational incidents, improve efficiency and strengthen compliance with established standards.
He assured participants that management would provide the enabling environment needed for the effective implementation of the reviewed SOPs and make them an integral part of the Corporation’s operational culture.
The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Monsurat Omotayo, who presented the first technical paper titled, “The Role of Capacity Building in the Effective Implementation of Standard Operating Procedures,” emphasised the need for continuous staff development, effective leadership and performance measurement.
Participants at the retreat stressed the importance of strict adherence to the SOPs across all cadres of staff.
The Director of Civil Engineering and New Lines, Engr. Adekunle Ayeni, noted that attitudinal change and consequence management remained critical to successful implementation, advocating a balanced system of rewards and sanctions.
The Special Adviser to the Managing Director on Media and Strategic Communication, Mr. Adeyinka Aderibigbe, described the retreat as a major milestone, noting that the resulting document would serve as a benchmark for railway operators and service providers across the industry.
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Similarly, the Deputy Director of Finance, Alhaji Abdullah, said the review process was unique because it had, for the first time, produced a comprehensive operational document developed through contributions from key departments of the Corporation.
The two-day technical review covered the standard operating procedures of the Corporate Planning, Medical, Finance, Legal, Internal Audit, Information and Communications Technology, Procurement, Operations and Commercial, Civil Engineering, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal and Telecommunications, and Human Resources departments.
In her closing remarks, Omotayo commended participants for their active engagement and urged them to sustain the momentum as the Corporation moves to implement the reviewed procedures.
