In 2022 our Rail lines are Running on Diesel Fossil Fuels akin to the Early Railway systems run on coal in the 18th & 19th Centuries, when most New Rail systems are running on Electric even using Magnets for High speed Trains

Despite being an Exporter of Oil & Gas we are Dependent on Importated Refined Petroleum Products including Diesel which is Deregulated & sold at International Prices.

What are the Implications of our failure to Electrify our New Rail lines.

1. To run efficiently & make Profits to pay back the Chinese loans, rail ticket prices should reflect international Pricing not local Pricing as the Major Energy costs Diesel is Imported just like Aviation Fuel.

2. When will Min of Transport & Nigerian Railways Corp Reveal; in the interest of Transparency & Accountability, its accounts detailing costs, Expenses & Receipts as well as confirming whether its meeting its Chinese loan commitments

3. Rail Transportation will soon be beyond the Reach of the Common man if the Subsidies on Ticket Prices are Removed. If the Subsidies are not removed the Rail services of Lagos to Ibadan, Warri to Itakpe, Abuja to Kaduna & even the one to Rep of Niger etc will become Moribound as Govt Revenues continue to be Restrained.

4 As much as we Celebrate the Standard Guage Dual Carriage Rail System.of the APC Buhari Administration I cannot for the life of me accept the failure to include Rail Electrification at the Conceptual stage.

5. Gas Turbine Plants dedicated to the Lines with 750v DC 3rd Rail or Overhead Power Lines would have been able to Power the Rail lines Very Efficiently and likely to be Cheaper to run than Imported Deisel

6. Electric Powered Trains also run much Faster than Deisel Trains which also have higher maintenance costs. Why do Nigerians always Celebrate Mediocre Achievements when we can do much much better.

It is time for Govt to sell Operating Licences for Private Operators to run trains on the Railway Network for greater Competition. The Various lines should be sold with Provision for Electrification within the next 2-3yrs

Govt that is Running out of money has no business owning businesses it can't manage efficiently especially with increasing FX costs.

What's your View pleasevshare

Femi Oke
*Betta9ja*

electricity that the gov cant provide to common people, na that one you want to put on train... god forbid!