National Economic Council receives progress reports on rail, aviation developments

The National Economic Council on Thursday received progress reports on the developments and achievements in Nigeria’s railway and aviation sectors.

 

The reports were presented at the Council’s virtual meeting presided over by the country’s Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

 

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, who briefed the media on the report of the Minister of Transportation, said that the country’s railway development was stalled in the 1960s until 1986 when the federal government commenced the construction of 326km standard gauge from Itakpe in Ajeokuta, Kogi State (North-Central Nigeria) to Warri in Delta State (Southern Nigeria).

 

“Nigeria’s rail infrastructure development halted until the present administration of President Buhari came on board and brought to reality the rail modernization plan of the federal government of Nigeria by commencing the implementation of 1367km Lagos-Kano Rail lines. 

 

“The outcome of the present federal government intervention includes that they completed and made operational the 186km Abuja-Kaduna, a standard gauge rail line, started by President Jonathan. 

 

“It is fully operational now.  President Buhari completed it and it is in operation now.”

 

According to Governor Umahi, under the administration of President Buhari, the country commenced the construction of the 185.5km Lagos-Ibadan new double standard gauge rail lines in 2016, which is in progress now and almost completed.

 

“The present administration also completed and made operational 302 Itakpe to Ajeokuta Standard Gauge Rail Line and connected Apapa Ports by rail while part of Warri Port has been concessioned,” he added.

 

25-year strategic vision

Governor Umahi said that the programme for rail infrastructure in Nigeria is a 25-year Strategic Vision under which the federal government, in its determination to revive and modernize the railway system, adopted a systematic dual approach.

 

“This entails the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge lines simultaneously with the development of Standard Gauge lines. 

 

“The ministry of transportation and the Nigerian Railway Corporation are vigorously following this vision in developing its short and medium term plans.”  he explained.

 

Challenges

Umahi, however, also reeled out challenges bedeviling the 25-year plan to include finance, inadequate funding, operational challenge, insufficient locomotives, coaches and wagons leading to congestion.

 

He also identified obsolete machinery and poor workshop equipment, access to only two seaports and none to airports, lack of capacity to recover encroached premises and rental debts from government organizations.

 

“Security is also part of it, which includes porosity of rail corridors and railway crossings, vulnerability of outdoor signaling and telecommunication installations to vandalism.

 

“Of course, there are also legal and legislative impediments.  The Railway Act of 1955 does not encourage private public partnership unfortunately,”  Umahi noted.

 

Addressing journalists, he said that the Council welcomed the presentation and looked forward to further collaboration with the federal government on the venture.

 

Governor Abduraham Abdurazak of Kwara State also briefed the media on developments in Nigeria’s aviation sector.

 

Amaka E. Nliam