The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in the last one year recorded some milestones, and minor incidents, especially in the resumption of passenger/freight train services and derailments, respectively.
Only recently, the corporation had a successful test-run of a Lagos-Kano narrow gauge freight train conveying the first batch of containers preparatory to resumption of commercial freight train service soon.
This is coming as the removal of railways from the exclusive to concurrent list by the 9th Assembly has attracted partnerships with states and corporate bodies in line with this law to remove complete monopoly of the federal government in providing infrastructure and rolling stocks.
The minister of transportation, Sa’id Alkali, had, at his maiden press briefing on assumption of office last year, directed that the vandalized sections of Lagos-Kano narrow gauge railway line should be replaced so that freight and passenger train service along that corridor can resume this year.
He noted that the potential of the Dala inland dry port in Kano and Kaduna inland dry port will be fully appreciated when the Lagos-Kano freight train service commences operation.
National Association of Government-Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), in its reaction to the successful test-run, commended the minister and management of NRC for having the political will to convey the first batch of containers from Lagos to Dala inland dry port, Kano.
Founder of NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, in a statement, said that the freight service will help to reduce port congestion and the burden of conveying bulky goods on our roads and by extension reduce damage caused by container-laden trucks on roads.
Alkali also flagged off the maiden freight train on the standard gauge railway corridor from Apapa port to Obafemi Awolowo railway terminal, Moniya, Ibadan, following extension of tracks from Ebute-Metta Junction to A.P. Moller terminal by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
Director of Operations, Bueno Logistics, partners of NRC in freight train service, Mr Paul Ndibe, in his remarks, said the commencement of freight train service on standard gauge railway line from Lagos to Ibadan marked a significant milestone as importers can now move their containers by rail to Ibadan for onward transfer by road to their various destinations.
He noted that presently the company, in partnership with NRC, evacuated containers for Nigeria Tobacco Company, from Lagos to Ibadan and back.
Apart from that, he said the company in partnership also conveyed containers of cement for LAFARGE from Ewekoro in Ogun State to Ilorin through the narrow gauge railway line, among other freight train service, from Apapa to container depots within and around Lagos.
Another event recorded in the last one year was resumption of Port-Harcourt-Aba narrow gauge passenger train service in the month of April this year after suspension of train service along that corridor for several years following the vandalism of tracks.
The 67 kilometres (narrow gauge) rehabilitated rail line from Port-Harcourt to Aba, according to minister of transportation, was started in order to ease transportation along the rail corridor, adding that plans are underway to extend the rehabilitation to Enugu and construct new tracks to Onne and Abakaliki.
Also, the federal government, in the month of December 2023 to be precise, announced free train ride along all railway corridors in the country from Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe, Abuja-Kaduna and Ijoko-Iddo from December 24, 2023, to January 4, 2024.
The burning of shanties and demolition of illegal structures along the Lagos-Agbado railway corridor, especially by Lagos State task force, took its toll at Fagba, Agege, Oyingbo and Agbado as squatters gathered in clusters to discuss the alleged ‘eviction without notice’ in hushed voices, only for the latter to return to status quo at some of the aforementioned locations after the exercise.
Derailments
It was not all uhuru for the rail sector as minor derailenents without casualties were recorded in Lagos along the narrow gauge railway corridor after Ebute-Metta railway station (Oyingbo), forcing passengers on board Kajola/Ijoko to Iddo-bound Lagos mass transit trains to drop at Ebute-Metta Junction for two consecutive days instead of Iddo railway station as indicated on the tickets.
Another derailment occured after Ijora railway station near the Apapa port and with the efforts officials, led by railway district manager, Engr. Augustine Arase, train service along the corridor resumed within a short time.
As for the Kaduna-Abuja-bound train that recently derailed after departing Rigassa, deputy director, public relations, Yakub Mahmood, said the passenger train was re-railed and the journey to Abuja was completed the same day.
Future plans
On the construction of Kano-Maradi standard gauge railway line, the minister explained that earth work required for the laying of standard gauge railway tracks from Kano-Maradi has been completed, adding that work on the Kano-Dutse-Daura-Maradi rail line will be completed in two years’ time.
The managing director of NRC, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, in his remarks on future plans, disclosed that government has since jettisoned the earlier plan to concession NRC in preference for unbundling and that a committee has been set up to work out modalities for unbundling the service of the corporation.
According to him, “Unbundling means the corporation is now open to investment by the public, private sector through granting of ‘track access,’ as well as outright importation of locomotives and rolling stocks by nterested investors
“Based on terms of agreement, interested states and corporate bodies are expected to pay revenue to NRC for operating their trains on the national track just like what obtains at the airports where private airlines pay Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria for use of the federal government’s runway.”
He noted that in case of the red line in Lagos, the management of NRC has granted ‘track access’ to the state government for the latter use of the standard gauge rail line constructed by the corporatiin to operate commercial train service from Oyingbo to Agbado based on some terms of agreement.
Okhiria explained further that, “Lagos State government will pay NRC some money for use of NRC tracks to operate commercial train service.”
He stated that Plateau State government has also declared interest in the purchase of locomotive engines and rolling stocks, which will be operated on the national track for commercial purpose and in return the state will pay NRC for use of its tracks.
As for states like Niger, Kaduna, and Borno , the NRC boss said modalities are being worked out for the states to provide diesel for operating intra-state train service for evacuation of farm products and passengers at a cheaper rates from the hinterland to urban centres while NRC will provide locomotive engines and rolling stocks to operate the trains.
He stated that, “We don’t want to make the mistake made by some government agencies in the past. So we adopted unbundling policy so that states and the private sector can as well invest in rail development and not leave it for the federal government to fund and operate.”
The NRC boss disclosed that 50 locomotive engines and rolling stocks will soon be imported to enhance transit of goods and passengers on the narrow gauge railway line.
The MD called on the federal government to extend the Warri-Itakpe standard gauge railway line from Itakpe to Abuja so as to allow for easy linkage by rail to adjourning states like Niger, Nasarawa and Sokoto.
Managing director, First Rit Nigeria Limited, Mr. Eric Umezurike, welcomed the decision to unbundle the railways, saying, “It is better to unbudle than to concession a narrow gauge rail system that is obsolete.”
According to him, there is no investor that will invest in dilapidated infrastructure with few operational locomotive engines like the railways that were abandoned over the years by successive governments.
While commending the efforts of government to ensure that only gas-powered locomotives will be procured for the ongoing construction of Kano-Maradi standard gauge railway line, he advised government to key into new technological advancement through investment in electric and speed trains.
He gave kudos to Lagos State government for blazing the trail in the use of electric tracks to run its blue line from Marina to Mile2.