Discussions for the initiation of the the construction of Lagos-Calabar rail line, also known as the West-East rail, has been initiated in Cross Rivers state.

The meeting made up of commissioners for Transport from 17 states of the South-West, South-East and South-South, met to discuss about a rail that will cut across the south-west, south-east and the south-south states in Nigeria.

The meeting was convened by the BRACED(Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta) Commission.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, participants affirmed the importance of the West-East rail line as part of the national development agenda to improve mass transportation in Nigeria.

tchaik: Nice one!

They will now set up a committee to look into it!

mukina2:

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/42029-states-initiate-lagos-calabar-rail-to-boost-economy

afam4eva: This is a good initiative.

Which states will the rail line be passing through?

edoyad: Some of you are speaking like the only thing that connects Lagos to other parts of the country is imported goods. Don't people and Locally produced goods move around too?

Okija_juju:

Useless initiative...

Calabar is a dead town.. They dont need a railway line when they have Calabar port lying dormant and highly under utilized and maintained. I served in Calabar and worked for NIMASA. If you see the report of shipping activities in calabar port for 6 months, thats what comes into Tin Can and Apapa port in 1 week..

I'm not saying a rail line isnt good or needed, however, if its for transporting goods, then I suggest they revamp Calabar port and divert many ships to go there.

owo: Will ethnic jingoists allow ship diversion to work?

Vessels transporting cars were once diverted to Calabar and Port Harcourt to keep the ports active, and suddenly the cry of "plot to strangulate one region's economy" rent the air. The sympathetic presidency of the time, reversed the order, and pronto, the nation was back to the old order of relying on a single dual carriage way for evacuation of most of the imports. I wonder why they did not use sand bags to block all other ports, so that those in the Lagos area can be happy.

What a country!!!

Okija_juju:


Sadly, the Rail is for economic gains and the Shipping would bring more money than the trains would.. Calabar needs investors and the sea needs to be opened up.]

billante:

Its not about calabar u mooron!! Calabar is just d end point of d rail line....there lots of states d rail line should pass tru, transporting both goods and people! And am sure south east will like to key in into the project, like having an arm of d rail line diverted at somewhere at edo or delta then moving towards anambra imo abia rivers then join the rail again to end at calabar.

I think they should make this a speed train line so dat people can live at east or south and be coming to work at lagos or transact business and go back d same day! Thereby reducing the mass exodus to lagos and deconjesting d city.

Okija_juju:

Good point but did you have to curse at me?!

Okay! No problem.

I shall retaliate!

HNosegbe: Have they talked about the funding? What about the legal issues? Right of way? Geological surveys? Management of the railway? Personnel/labour force requirements? Sharing of revenues from the railway? How long will it take? Compensation of affected communities?

Please let me know when you're serious.

HNosegbe: Have they talked about the funding? What about the legal issues? Right of way? Geological surveys? Management of the railway? Personnel/labour force requirements? Sharing of revenues from the railway? How long will it take? Compensation of affected communities?

Please let me know when you're serious.

billante:

Didn't u read they are having meetings and sessions!! Or do u think they gather just to talk about how good their wives were last nite

billante:

Its not about calabar u mooron!! Calabar is just d end point of d rail line....there lots of states d rail line should pass tru, transporting both goods and people! And am sure south east will like to key in into the project, like having an arm of d rail line diverted at somewhere at edo or delta then moving towards anambra imo abia rivers then join the rail again to end at calabar.

I think they should make this a speed train line so dat people can live at east or south and be coming to work at lagos or transact business and go back d same day! Thereby reducing the mass exodus to lagos and deconjesting d city.

kettykin: This rail line as high as it sounds , is another unncessary waste of useful capital just like Ajaokuta Steel, the money should be invested in Ibaka Seaport, Calabar Seaport and PH sea Port, this will bring about diversification of Nigeria's Maritime Economy and also a fall back option if Apapa is under attack

kettykin: The point is that in order of priority considering the paucity of funds and limited life of the Administration , the needful thing is to commit the resource in to deepening the Already constructed sea ports in PHand Calabar , rather than start another tail spin project that sounds very good but no body can determine how it will end.

The Ibaka and Calabar Sea port will in a long way reduce the number of East west transpotation carrying goods on heavy duty trailer there by increasing the life span of the Lagos Asaba expressway , it will also decongest the Oshodi Apapa express way leaving the roads intact for the use of Lagosians, it will go along way to free up estates in Satellite town , Festac, Apapa, Coconut, Ajegunle as most of the Igbos and other Maritime workers living and doing business in those locations will move to Ibaka , Aba, PH, an Calabar , this will go along way to preserve the live of other infratsture in Lagos like 3rd mainland bridge which is presently undergoing repairs , reduce the carnage on the Lagos Asaba expressway leaving the route free for non commercial travellers e.t.c

kettykin: The point is that in order of priority considering the paucity of funds and limited life of the Administration , the needful thing is to commit the resource in to deepening the Already constructed sea ports in PHand Calabar , rather than start another tail spin project that sounds very good but no body can determine how it will end.

The Ibaka and Calabar Sea port will in a long way reduce the number of East west transpotation carrying goods on heavy duty trailer there by increasing the life span of the Lagos Asaba expressway , it will also decongest the Oshodi Apapa express way leaving the roads intact for the use of Lagosians, it will go along way to free up estates in Satellite town , Festac, Apapa, Coconut, Ajegunle as most of the Igbos and other Maritime workers living and doing business in those locations will move to Ibaka , Aba, PH, an Calabar , this will go along way to preserve the live of other infratsture in Lagos like 3rd mainland bridge which is presently undergoing repairs , reduce the carnage on the Lagos Asaba expressway leaving the route free for non commercial travellers e.t.c

kokoA: and another committee that will review the work of that comittee and report to a comittee of governors drawn from the affected states