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)
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