Sincere 9gerian:

** Bringing Trains Back To Reckoning In Nigeria

Written by Felix Adewumi Published on 28 April 2009 Created on 28 April 2009




An important aspect of the seven- point agenda of President Umaru Yar’Adua is transportation and the Federal Government has demonstrated its political will to make the rail transport system work again through both short and long term approaches.

With the hope of reviving the dwindling significance of the rail sector, President Umaru Yar’Adua while presenting the 2009 budget, earmarked N8.3 billion to be spent on modernization of locomotive coaches and wagon as well as rehabilitation work and procurement of railway equipment in 2009.

The Nigerian president, who presented a N2.87 trillion budget for 2009 to the National Assembly in the first week of December, earmarked 91 per cent of the overall N718.160 billion of capital expenditure for five key priority sectors of the economy which include power, works, transport, oil and gas, and aviation.

While listing rail rehabilitation as one of the key project to be funded by the 2009 budget, the president stated that his administration remains steadfastly focused on its vision for Nigeria as encapsulated in the seven-point agenda and the vision 2020.

Realising the importance of following his promise with action, the president appointed Alhaji Ibrahim Bio as the minister of transport and given the mandate to turnaround the fortune of the rail transport system in the country

Sincere 9gerian:

Meeting the challenges

No sooner had the minister resumed office, that he commenced a tour of the facilities of the corporation as well as solicit the support of states governors and private investors.

‘It was in the realization of the pivotal role of railway in the nation’s economic growth that President Yar’Adua gave me a marching order to turnaround the fortune of the nation’s transport system’ the minister had said in his visit to Lagos State

The minister started his nationwide tour in Lagos with a visit to the corporation’s headquarter as well as inspect other facilities to know the level of repair needed to be done.

He also paid a courtesy visit to Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State where he canvassed for the cooperation of the governor in the resuscitation programme.

Bio expressed satisfaction with the contribution of the Lagos State government in the rail Mass transit programme, stressing that the mega Light rail mass transit project planned by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (Lamata) in partnership with NRC, is a step in the right direction.

Moreover, the minister in his northern visit to Kaduna, Zaria and Kano paid a scheduled visit to Governor Mohammed Sambo, and Ibrahim Shekarau of Kaduna and Kano where he also canvassed for the support of both states in the plan of the Federal Government to revive the rail system.

At Kaduna, the minister commended the governor for partnering with NRC for the implementation of the Kaduna State Mass Transit Train Services MTTS and called on other state governors to emulate the vision and mission of the Kaduna state government in making live more comfortable for the people of their states.

The Kaduna State governor had also in his reply hinted on the hinted that the state planned to procure four rail locomotives for the transfer of some of the consignments currently trapped at Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, both in Lagos to the Inland Container Depot (ICD)

The governor, who recently commissioned the state’s Mass Transit Service (MTTS) hinted that the state plans to procure four rail locomotives for the transfer of goods to the ICD.

According to him, the locomotives when purchased would be used in transferring the containers from Lagos to the Kaduna dry port.

Whereas, in Kano State, he urged the governor to partner with NRC to restore the moribund Mass Transit Train Services (MTTS) in the state since Kano State was one of the centre point for rail movement.

At Enugu State, Bio met with Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State where also stressed the importance of resuscitating the rail service in the state.

The minister noted that Enugu is one of the state where rail facility is meant to be given serious consideration considering the position of the of the state in the eastern part of the country.

He further inspected the Warri, Koko and Sapele ports in Delta State as well as the National Inland Waterways Authority (Niwa) dockyard in Delta state and the Port harcourt port, where he hope to involved the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) in the railway programme.

According to him, when the rail is functioning well, it will aid in reducing port congestion

Sincere 9gerian:

Constraints against the resuscitation

Despite the seriousness shown by the minister in carrying out the order of President Yar’Adua on the resuscitation of the rail, he could be faced with some difficulties in carrying out the order.

Prominent among such difficulties is the alleged encroachment of facilities of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) by some state governments.

As the minister moved from states to states he was confronted with some realities that some of the railway properties have been leased out or even sold out.

The minister who was not pleased with the development had stated that as the modernisation and rehabilitation programme go underway, all railway corridors need to be free of illegal structures capable of obstructing train operations or rights of ways, whether those structures are legally illegally erected.

In view of this, the minister gave all illegal occupants in the NRC properties till the middle of March to vacate the properties or face forceful eviction.

He said the order affects those occupants who lived in structures that are obstructing the right of way of trains, and those that fall within the proposed modernise rail route.

According to the minister, affected occupants of the illegal structure have been formally notified of the revocation of their right to the structure.

This includes structures with Temporary Occupation License (TOL), and Permanent Occupation License (POL), within the operational area along the rail across the country.

After the expiration of the ultimatum on March 10, NRC commenced on the demolition of structures as it made move to demolish illegal structures along the railways in Ebutte-Metta, Ijuku, Iddo, Ijora, Agege, Ikeja, and Ifako.
Alhaji Ibrahim Labaran, the general manager of Railway Property Company, had however said that while those on permanent lease will be compensated, those on temporary lease will not be compensated.

This according to him is because the terms of agreement for both POL and TOL states that the license could be revoke at anytime with or without notice.

However, there seems to be some disagreement on the position of the lands as NRC and some states government had began to trade blames on the railway property

The management of NRC had informed the minister of transport that some part of NRC landed areas were encroached upon and forcible occupied by some state government department.

Mr Paul Ndibe, the Railway District Manager (RDM) of Eastern District of NRC, who made this allegation, stated that the action of the state government, denied NRC of the opportunity for possible expansion as may be required for the railway modernisation and for effective protection of railway facilities.

“Some State government have encroached and forcibly occupied some of our land and denied us the opportunity for possible expansion required for railway modernisation” he said.

However, in contrast to NRC’s position, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State had during the minister of transport visits to Enugu State, alleged that the management of NRC had sold almost all the railway landed property in the state.

The governor wondered if NRC has any available land for the modernisation project after having sold almost all the land.

“We were surprise to see people building structures on the railway land without recourse to the state ministry of Urban development and when we approached them, they claimed that the land belonged to the Federal Government” the governor said.

“I should think that if NRC wants to sell their land, the state government should be first be considered as NRC acquired the land from the old western region in the first place” he added.

Although the minister had declared that no matter what, all railway property must be returned to NRC to aid the modernisation programme, some states which acquired these lands from NRC and invested heavily on the land would however not be too pleased with the decision of the Federal Government on the land.

Rehabilitating and modernising
Notwithstanding the steps taken by the Federal Government to really revive the rail system; a lot of people might have expressed mixed feeling at the possibility.

Bio had always reiterated that the railway modernisation programme embarked upon by the Federal Government will be executed in phases and according to the dictates of the nation’s fund.

Despite the Federal Government suspending the $8.3 billion modernisation project awarded to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for the Nigerian railway modernisation from Lagos to Kano via Abuja, it had always emphasised to those who care to listen that the modernisation programme have not been abandoned and it hope to execute it in phases.

The minister had also emphasized the need to understand the difference between the standard and the narrow gauge in order to avoid misconception or misrepresentation

Sincere 9gerian:

The minister had also emphasized the need to understand the difference between the standard and the narrow gauge in order to avoid misconception or misrepresentation

According to him, while modernisation of the railway will be based on the standard gauge and executed in phases or according to the dictates of the nation’s fund, the narrow gauge will be rehabilitated and put into used across the country.

However, the rehabilitation programme is being misinterpreted in some quarters by State governments who felt that the Federal Government should have just gone ahead with the modernisation to keep Nigerian railway abreast with the modern rail system.

Governor Chime of Enugu who expressed his pessimism at the possibility of such project wondered why the Federation Government will spend money to buy over 200 locomotives and coaches when the world have passed that stage.

“I heard that you are planning to buy over 200 coaches and locomotives, I was wondering where you are bringing them from, I do not know if they still manufacture these things, or maybe you are buying a used one, but in an advance world, they have gone beyond that and everybody is talking of electric rail and speed trains

Meeting the deadlines

The set target for the rehabilitation of the railway in Nigeria has been put between now and the end of the tenure of President Yar’Adua.

The minister revealed that discussions are going on between the Federal Government and some states which have expressed their commitment to partner with the federal government in the development and construction of the new rail line and the haulage of goods from the sea port to their respective states.

Speaking on the need to boost rail operation in the country, the transport minister hinted that before the end of the tenure of President Yar’Adua, the Federal Government plans to provide 100 locomotive engines.

However, he added stated that in the interim, as a contingent measure to boost the corporation, over 30 and 40 locomotive of the corporation which had been grounded, will be rehabilitated before the end of 2009.

In 2008, the participation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the NRC, was a huge success among which gave birth to the introduction of the Kaduna mass transit and the Lagos light rail project.

Also, as part effort to ensure efficient rail transportation in Lagos State, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (Lamata) in 2008 concluded arrangement with the Nigrian Railway Corporation (NRC) to introduce mega rail mass transit project in the state.

This achievement coupled with the target set by the president, will at least have a great contribution to bringing the rail system back to reckoning

http://nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/felix-adewumi/bringing-trains-back-to-reckoning-in-nigeria.html

Sincere 9gerian:

Here are the milestones:

1. March 13th, 2011, President Jonathan commissioned the newly acquired 25 locomotive engines of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), breathing life into the hitherto comatose rail sector. The President also used the occasion to embark on a 98km train ride from the NRC headquarters at Ebute Metta, Lagos, to Abeokuta in Ogun
http://allafrica.com/stories/201103140942.html

2. March 13th, 2011, the the federal government announced that it has declared a one-week FREE train service on the newly rehabilitated Lagos-Jebba route, as part of efforts to rekindle public confidence in rail transport.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201103140942.html

3. June 10th, 2011, skeletal services began on the newly rehabilitated Minna-Kaduna railway route
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/116884-nigeria-railway-generates-n500-000-per-trip-on-minna-kaduna-route.html

4. January 24th, 2013, the Nigeria Railway announced that it now generates N500,000 per trip (up from N40,000 per trip when skeletal services began about a year ago) on Minna – Kaduna route
https://www.nairaland.com/1173748/nigeria-railway-generates-n500-000

5. 10th February, 2011, President Jonathan performed the official flag-off/ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of Abuja- Kaduna standard gauge fast railway
http://allafrica.com/stories/201102090690.html

6. 30th January, 2012, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, Performed the ground breaking for rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Jos-Gombe-Maiduguri railway
http://allafrica.com/stories/201201300611.html

7. 10th August, 2010, the management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the introduction of first class (air-conditioned and in-built TV) passenger trains in Lagos, in its quest for improved rail transport services to the commuting public
https://www.nairaland.com/494322/nigeria-railways-introduces-first-class-passenger

8. 10th August 2010, the management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced that it has increased its frequency between Ijoko/Agbado and Iddo/Apapa railway routes in Lagos by introducing additional new trains, up from four to six trains daily.
https://www.nairaland.com/494322/nigeria-railways-introduces-first-class-passenger

9. December 21th, 2012, the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s Lagos-Kano intercity passenger train services and haulage of petroleum products was flagged off after completion of rehabilitation of the entire line.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/12/21/nigeria-launches-lagos-kano-train-service/

10. 21st Oct 2011, the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s announced the reopening of passenger train services in Apapa
http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201110211364.html/

11. July 25, 2013, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), commenced operation of a third train service on the Lagos-Kano rail line
http://leadership.ng/news/260713/3rd-lagos-kano-train-service-begins

12. 9th February 2012, the Nigeria Railways announced that it has taken delivery of the imported 20 new pressurised petroleum products tank wagons. The 20 wagons have the capacity to lift 900,000 litres of petroleum products, which is the equivalent of about 27 tankers by road.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/minister-takes-delivery-of-20-petroleum-tank-wagons/

13. July 17, 2013, it was reported that the railway system at the Lagos Port complex, especially around the APM Terminals has been fully rehabilitated and will soon be put to use for the evacuation of goods.
http://leadership.ng/news/140713/evacuation-cargoes-rail-seaports-begins-soon

14. July 4, 2013, Vice President Namadi Sambo, officially flagged off the final phase (track laying) of the of Abuja- Kaduna Fast Railway project
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2013-07-05/content_9501565.html

15. 24th July, 2013, work on the Abuja light rail project re-started after it was stalled because of paucity of funds.
http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/business-news/127990-minister-assures-on-2015-completion-of-abuja-light-rail-project

16. 20th January 2013, it was reported that passengers have overwhelmed the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on the Lagos-Kano intercity transit that started about a month ago, thereby creating a fresh challenge for the outfit. Right from the origin, say two stations away from the Iddo Terminal, the train is full to capacity. People find it difficult to join at the intermediate stations.
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/45540/2013/01/20/passengers_overwhelm_nrc_lagoskano_route.html

Obiagelli: FRESH AIR Sincere 9gerian style

Sincere 9gerian: Now lets fast forward to FRESH AIR era >>>>>>>

Here are the milestones:

1. March 13th, 2011, President Jonathan commissioned the newly acquired 25 locomotive engines of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), breathing life into the hitherto comatose rail sector. The President also used the occasion to embark on a 98km train ride from the NRC headquarters at Ebute Metta, Lagos, to Abeokuta in Ogun
http://allafrica.com/stories/201103140942.html

2. March 13th, 2011, the the federal government announced that it has declared a one-week FREE train service on the newly rehabilitated Lagos-Jebba route, as part of efforts to rekindle public confidence in rail transport.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201103140942.html

3. June 10th, 2011, skeletal services began on the newly rehabilitated Minna-Kaduna railway route
http://premiumtimesng.com/news/116884-nigeria-railway-generates-n500-000-per-trip-on-minna-kaduna-route.html

4. January 24th, 2013, the Nigeria Railway announced that it now generates N500,000 per trip (up from N40,000 per trip when skeletal services began about a year ago) on Minna – Kaduna route
https://www.nairaland.com/1173748/nigeria-railway-generates-n500-000

5. 10th February, 2011, President Jonathan performed the official flag-off/ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of Abuja- Kaduna standard gauge fast railway
http://allafrica.com/stories/201102090690.html

6. 30th January, 2012, the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, Performed the ground breaking for rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Jos-Gombe-Maiduguri railway
http://allafrica.com/stories/201201300611.html

7. 10th August, 2010, the management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced the introduction of first class (air-conditioned and in-built TV) passenger trains in Lagos, in its quest for improved rail transport services to the commuting public
https://www.nairaland.com/494322/nigeria-railways-introduces-first-class-passenger

8. 10th August 2010, the management of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) announced that it has increased its frequency between Ijoko/Agbado and Iddo/Apapa railway routes in Lagos by introducing additional new trains, up from four to six trains daily.
https://www.nairaland.com/494322/nigeria-railways-introduces-first-class-passenger

9. December 21th, 2012, the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s Lagos-Kano intercity passenger train services and haulage of petroleum products was flagged off after completion of rehabilitation of the entire line.
http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/12/21/nigeria-launches-lagos-kano-train-service/

10. 21st Oct 2011, the Nigeria Railway Corporation’s announced the reopening of passenger train services in Apapa
http://m.allafrica.com/stories/201110211364.html/

11. July 25, 2013, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), commenced operation of a third train service on the Lagos-Kano rail line
http://leadership.ng/news/260713/3rd-lagos-kano-train-service-begins

12. 9th February 2012, the Nigeria Railways announced that it has taken delivery of the imported 20 new pressurised petroleum products tank wagons. The 20 wagons have the capacity to lift 900,000 litres of petroleum products, which is the equivalent of about 27 tankers by road.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/minister-takes-delivery-of-20-petroleum-tank-wagons/

13. July 17, 2013, it was reported that the railway system at the Lagos Port complex, especially around the APM Terminals has been fully rehabilitated and will soon be put to use for the evacuation of goods.
http://leadership.ng/news/140713/evacuation-cargoes-rail-seaports-begins-soon

14. July 4, 2013, Vice President Namadi Sambo, officially flagged off the final phase (track laying) of the of Abuja- Kaduna Fast Railway project
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2013-07-05/content_9501565.html

15. 24th July, 2013, work on the Abuja light rail project re-started after it was stalled because of paucity of funds.
http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/business-news/127990-minister-assures-on-2015-completion-of-abuja-light-rail-project

16. 20th January 2013, it was reported that passengers have overwhelmed the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on the Lagos-Kano intercity transit that started about a month ago, thereby creating a fresh challenge for the outfit. Right from the origin, say two stations away from the Iddo Terminal, the train is full to capacity. People find it difficult to join at the intermediate stations.
http://leadership.ng/nga/articles/45540/2013/01/20/passengers_overwhelm_nrc_lagoskano_route.html

hercules07: I am sure you guys are used to [b]mediocrity, that is why you will celebrate something like this, please help us tell those in power that we can enjoy far better service than this for the amount spent on the railway rehabilitation.

taharqa: @sincere9jerian, add the almost completed contract for Feasibility Studies for 10 new Standard Lines and the fact that a 'trial' train moved about 2 months on d PH-Enugu Route for the 1st time in almost 15 years..... Abeg, add them cos this beaurifu summary wud be very useful for future purposes

hercules07: I am sure you guys are used to mediocrity, that is why you will celebrate something like this, please help us tell those in power that we can enjoy far better service than this for the amount spent on the railway rehabilitation.

Sincere 9gerian: As much as APC e-warriors try to act deaf and dumb, we'll continue to bombard them with messages and missiles of FRESH AIR.

Sincere 9gerian:

18. September 26th, 2012, Federal Govt awarded N1.3 billion contract for feasibility studies of ten fast train lines across the country. The fast lines cover Lagos-Sagamu-Ijebu Ode-Ore-Benin (300km); Benin-Agbor-Onitsha-Nnewi-Owerri-Aba, with additional line from Onitsha-Enugu-Abakaliki (500km).

It also include a 615km-high-speed rail track from Lagos to Abuja, passing through Lagos, Oshogbo and Baro. Others include Ajaokuta (Eganyi) – Obajana – Jakura – Baro – Abuja, with additional line from Ajaokuta to Otukpo (533km); Zaria – Kaura Namoda – Sokoto –Illela- Birnin Koni (520km).

Others are costal rail line linking Benin- Sapele-Warri-Yenogoa-Port Harcourt – Aba –Uyo-Akampa-Ikom-Obudu Cattle Ranch (673km); and Ajaokuta –Eganyi- Lokoja- Abaji –Abuja line (280km)

The study is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/fg-begins-work-on-10-new-rail-lines/
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/09/fg-okays-n1-3bn-for-5-fast-lane-train-lines/

19. August 25, 2013, rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Jos-Gombe-Maiduguri railway PROGRESSES steadily. NRC announced that it has Successfully connected the PH-Enugu Rail Line and that train had moved for the 1st time In 12 Years along the line.
https://www.nairaland.com/1411102/nrc-successfully-connects-ph-enugu-rail

20. May 15, 2012, progress of work on the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Ore-Warri fast Rail Line was reported. The project was started in 1987 but was later abandoned. Work was re-started in 2009 by Yar Adua and has been continued by President Jonathan. The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, visited the rail project starting from Warri and took a ride by train up to Agbor. After the inspection, Senator Umar expressed satisfaction at the work done so far and assured the nation that the Warri-Ajaokuta standard gauge rail line will be completed by March, next year
http://fmi.gov.ng/latest/8069/

A-ZeD:

Don't mind them.
They say a gold fish has no hiding place. If you have to repeatedly create articles to promote GEJ, then it means he is not working because if he was, he works would speak for him.
Action speaks louder than nairaland articles

hercules07: I am sure you guys are used to mediocrity, that is why you will celebrate something like this, please help us tell those in power that we can enjoy far better service than this for the amount spent on the railway rehabilitation.

Sincere 9gerian: This article confirms the fact that as at April 2009, Nigeria Railways was comatose, except for the Kaduna intra-city railway services that was on. In fact, then the railways was over-taken by all sorts of illegal structures.