Anxiety has spread across the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) following a strong directive from its Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, warning against the unauthorised sale, lease, or allocation of railway landed properties across the country.
In an internal circular dated December 18, 2025, the NRC management revealed that it had uncovered alleged illegal dealings involving some officers who transacted railway assets without proper authorisation.
The memo, referenced MDL.360/25/T/VOL.1-062 and obtained by The PUNCH, was addressed to Railway District Managers in Ebute Metta, Ibadan, and five other districts. Copies were also sent to key departments, including Legal, Procurement, Commercial, Finance, Human Resources, Engineering, and Operations.
According to the directive, some officers were allegedly involved in leasing or allocating NRC landed assets without the required documentation or approval from the Office of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer.
The development follows allegations made about nine months ago by the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers and the Senior Staff Association of Communications Transport Cooperation, which accused NRC Properties Limited of unlawfully selling and converting railway assets in several states, particularly in northern Nigeria.
While the unions claimed that numerous railway properties were improperly converted over a 17-year period, the property management firm maintained that all transactions followed due process. The workers subsequently petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Kano State Government, demanding a thorough investigation.
In the latest memo, Opeifa stressed that approval for the sale, lease, or clearance of any NRC land rests solely with the Managing Director.
He warned that no Railway District Manager or officer is permitted to engage in any transaction involving NRC properties without explicit written approval from the Managing Director of the NRC to the Managing Director of the Railway Property Management Company Limited.
The NRC boss cautioned that any officer found culpable would face severe disciplinary action in line with the corporation’s internal rules and the Public Service Regulations.
“You are therefore strongly warned and advised to desist forthwith from any unauthorised dealings in NRC landed properties and to strictly adhere to this directive,” the circular stated.
Efforts to obtain comments from the NRC spokesperson, Callistus Unyimadu, were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.
However, two NRC staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of sanctions, disclosed that the directive had triggered panic among some senior officers allegedly involved in questionable dealings, with several attempting to regularise or reverse arrangements made with illegal occupants of railway properties.
The development signals a renewed push by the NRC leadership to protect public assets and restore transparency in the management of railway properties nationwide.
