The Kwara State Government has handed over the operation of the Kwara State Rail Mass Transit Scheme to Harmony Holdings Limited.

This is in line with the objective of the state government to reorganise and restructure all moribund entities for optimal performance and efficiency.

At the formal handing over ceremony held at the State Ministry of Works and Transport on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Alabi Amuda, who represented the Commissioner, stated that the Rail Mass Transit Scheme was conceptualized and operated with the view to decongesting the highway, especially between Ilorin and Offa.

He also stated that before the suspension of the Scheme due to logistic reasons, it had become very popular among the populace due to its affordability and relative safety compared to road mode of transportation.

Alhaji Amuda commended the authorities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation who he said provided some facilities that made the scheme a success during the short period of its operation. He stressed that the Government reached the decision to effect the transfer of operation of the Scheme to Harmony Holdings because of the Government’s confidence in the ability of the company to manage and run the scheme efficiently and professionally.

While responding, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Harmony Holdings Limited, Mr. Tope Daramola, stated that the occasion marks a threshold for seeing through the vision of the administration in ensuring adequate transportation for the people of the State.

He further stated that the company is unfazed by the challenges inherent in the operation of the rail scheme, which he said he is well aware of.

He assured the Government that Harmony Holdings will work assiduously towards ensuring that the confidence reposed in it is not misplaced.

Present at the handing over ceremony were directors of the Ministry and company Executives from Harmony Holdings Ltd, including Mr. Adebayo Sanni, the Group Executive Director, Commercial Ventures.