₦airaland Forum

I still dont understan how this girl blow! E b like na private number she take dial God!

Is it my force!? What's all this religious nonsense? I am a Christian! And I think every thin about prophet Mohammed is fake!! Ur entited to ur opinion! Angry mob! I dey warri mek un show idiots

BABANGBALI:
una make Nigeria to be in the mess it is today,no wonder you dey owe your landlord and mama ngozi

Nigeria is messed up by una! Not GEJ. Fergie dey Manu carry everything... Moyes(bubu) show, spoil everything! Who mess up? No wonder u dey chop white rice without stew dey Waka for leg!

BABANGBALI:
Wetin una do for 16 yrs?go ask GEJ and come back to answer me

If u don't know please do a bit of research pls! Biko

madridguy:
My sister are you trying to bend way? Do you really understand what security vote means?

. Okay! Wat u saying exactly? Lemme get what makes u think pdp created BH

BABANGBALI:
na who be dis?na which of the PDP member allow you to come out to write this poo. Abeg go sleep jo.

Una rule Naija for 16 years una no fit clean up the thing wey we dey clean up within 1 year. PDP no get shame for body

calm down na forum we dey! No need to ginger... Ogoni clean up will take 30 to 40 years n a lot of cash ( abi ur baba say bar no dey?) now is that a lasting solution? Why not solve the Niger Delta wahala first n dem implement control principles for this companies before clean up! As them start now, shells incompetence or militants strike, not be begining u go start again? N the amount spent wasted!

madridguy:
Do you know General Owoye Azazi ? Yes/No

Yes! But seriously! If u wanna go that way, I'd say the sponsors of BH the pdp (defectors)

Nigerians sha! Common free data cheat... nothing! Common to hack share money to everyone... nothing! No modern day Robin hood! Smh... una feel say na to graduate? Computer Eng! Software.. programmer bla bla bla... rubbish! Una dey collect cert go do service then stay house dey ping! Smh. ( na tailor I b o..)

Kyase:
While you are away, buhari announced the clean up of ogoniland, which you couldn't do in the past 10 years in the presidency.....

my fear is if they wont play politics in it! It's a 30 to 40 years exercise! With cost a hefty sum! How successful will this be? What measures in place to stop more spillage? I think in this life sense matters! The first thing is to solve the Niger Delta wahala, put proper principles in place! Then clean up. A lasting solution.... I see this as propaganda as usual!

Mouthodor! Come take this thing drink!

Mak dem release am abeg! But she self! Sha... hmmm.. she collect sha o

Deen77:
OBJ is a cause to Nigeria, is in d position to build refinery he legalised importation of petroleum products an essential commodities. Why OBJ did not build refinery for 8 year's wasting our forex of which Jonathan follow his footsteps.

abegi! Exploration of oil started 1954 n are u here to blame OBJ n GEJ for refinery? For ur information! GEJ is the reason our refinery is in operation! research on it! I put this my point for debate! Nigeria major problem with refinery was not about cash for workforce or sth but was about location to build it then! Twas ethnic n political biz!

Deen77:
OBJ is a cause to Nigeria, is in d position to build refinery he legalised importation of petroleum products an essential commodities. Why OBJ did not build refinery for 8 year's wasting our forex of which Jonathan follow his footsteps.

abegi! Exploration of oil started 1954 n are u here to blame OBJ n GEJ for refinery? For ur information! GEJ is the reason our refinery is in operation! research on it! I put this my point for debate! Nigeria major problem with refinery was not about cash or workforce or sth but was about location to build it then! Twas ethnic n political biz!

Deen77:
OBJ is a cause to Nigeria, is in d position to build refinery he legalised importation of petroleum products an essential commodities. Why OBJ did not build refinery for 8 year's wasting our forex of which Jonathan follow his footsteps.

abegi! Exploration of oil started 1954 n are u here to blame OBJ n GEJ for refinery? For ur information! GEJ is the reason our refinery is in operation! research on it! I put this my point for debate! Nigeria major problem with refinery was not about cash for workforce or sth but was about location to build it then! Twas ethnic n political biz!

After General Yakubu "Jack" Dan-Yumma Gowon aka Jackie Chan go do father Christmas for India debt!

Person way rule 1984 ( Google am) that one finish the naira value.

The next president! After that, na badtguy n na OBJ.. but na 1984 them start crippling naija

chacoonder:
Hey!..Lagos makes more money than every other states in the country and our federal allocation is not even up to 5billion per month compared to the over 10 billion given to you people (Niger Delta) on a monthly basis....we depend solely on our IGR to sustain ourself in Lagos.

Oga! Both of u r saying 2 different things! N both of u r right! But there is a diff! SS internal generated funds from oil goes to Govt/multinationals. Taxes etc. So if we talk about resource control by states, Lagos dey learn work! But so far Lagos generates more that everyother states cuz of population(trades, etc) mainly by foreigners esp ndigbos

tonguengineer:
Ur stupidity stinks to the high heavens
PDP is ur problem right?
U mumu gan

As in! It beats me! Chai! Obvious if *ABC* big like my boobs there are some ppl that still won't get it clear!

madridguy:
" For President Buhari, who just marked one year in office, the NDA presents another fresh security challenge to the government which has been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the country."

I still don't know our offense as Country to deserve PDP at first.



PDP created Boko Haram to steal through defense budget, we voted them out again they created Avengers to crumple our economy. PDP why naa, you people should leave us alone.

So pdp create bh! GEJ administration was crippled by BH actions. BH created by pdp! Chai! Am not insulting u but ppl like u makes it clear that we Nigerians have bigger issues! If u believe BH was created by pdp. And they did all the did under GEJ, whereas today they are toothless! N u brain still tells u this! Den we as Nigerians have a bigger problem at hand! PS. I didn't say APC create it o!

Politics everywhere! Posters, fliers, don comot! Notin yet has been done! Tomorow we go hear say EFCC dey find somebody! Can't anything be done under APC without media showoff or adding more failed promises? Smh

Politics everywhere! Posters, fliers, don comot! Notin yet has been done! Tomorow we go hear say EFCC dey find somebody! Can't anything be done under APC without media showoff or adding more failed promises? Smh

Which justice? Abuse, blames, condolence or what? Cause if it's ur cash... E don enter bus they go lagoon!

Seeing the first pic, its obvious 2baba dey take okaniki gin well well! Cuz if u take atleast red label u go still try see well!

68816419:
who started what, i am amazed how ignorant Nigerians are,GEJ never did any thing,GEJ did 6 years and could not even complete any of the projects

Nigerian Railway Modernization and Expansion Program


http://www.ngex.com/business/public/Broadcast-by-President-Obasanjo-on-Nigerian-Railway-Modernization-and


Broadcast by
His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
On Nigerian Railway Modernization and Expansion Programme
Abuja, August 9, 2006


Fellow compatriots

It is with gratitude to God and great joy that I address you today as we mark another milestone in our on-going efforts to rejuvenate and reposition our country for greatness and sustained development. We have resolutely embraced reforms in order to move away from a past that was characterized by fiscal recklessness, plan indiscipline, misplaced priorities, and general insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people.

I am pleased to note that our reforms, your sacrifices and commitment to purposeful change are now yielding results. On all sectors of the economy, we are witnessing rapid changes and these are being acknowledged by the international community especially by our development partners. While we give thanks to God and I specially commend all Nigerians, we cannot and must not rest on our oars until we get to our set goals and destinations.

One area in which we have invested a lot of time, energy and resources is infrastructural rehabilitation and development. It is difficult to believe that in the decade before 1999, not a single investment was made in the power sector. The railway was not an exception to this neglect and policy indifference. Hence, I am pleased and proud to inform you all today, that the government has come up with a very bold and comprehensive agenda for the re-development, modernization and expansion of our national railway transportation system to meet our socio-economic, political, cultural development and integration objectives.

Broadly speaking, transportation offers tremendous potentials and opportunities for activating, stimulating and integrating national economies and ensuring national interaction and unity. The role of the railway mode of transport in particular has been quite significant in this respect and is quite evident in international economic and social relations and even within nations such as Nigeria.

No nation has achieved holistic development in all its ramifications without a coherent, integrated, efficient and reliable transportation system. It is therefore important that we place our railway development in proper historical perspective in order to fully appreciate the importance of our new path and approach in our inter-modal and comprehensive transportation system planning and development.

This inter-modal system includes road, inland waterways, and air transportation. Our investments in these areas are coordinated to make a lasting impact through a holistic transportation system across the country. Though I have not included bicycles in the inter-modal list of transport systems, it must not be forgotten, if only for its physical exercise and therefore, health implications.

The development of railways in Nigeria, like in most African countries was the initiative of the Colonial Administration with the objectives of exercising full political control, penetrating the hinterland, and evacuating goods to the coast for export to develop and feed their industry.

Actual railway construction in Nigeria commenced in 1898 with a 32 km line of 1067mm gauge from Iddo (Lagos State) to Otta (Ogun State), which was further extended to Ibadan covering a total of 193 km in 1901. Railway construction continued incrementally in such manners between 1901–1910, Ibadan–Jebba (295 km); 1907–1911, Kano–Baro (562 km); 1909–1915, Jebba–Minna (252 km); 1914–1916, Port-Harcourt–Enugu (243 km); and 1922–1927, Kafanchan–Jos (179 km).

Unfortunately, in spite of the obvious benefits of railway transportation, further development was more or less stultified between 1927 and 1958- a period of thirty-one years. It was not until 1958 with the construction of Kafanchan to Bauchi line (238 km) that work resumed on the rail system. This was followed between 1961–1964 with the Bauchi-Maiduguri line (302km).

This brought the total rail route of the Nigerian Railway Network to 3505 km (and if sidings are included, to 4,332 km).

In addition to the network mentioned is the 277 km on-going standard gauge railway specifically built and being dedicated to the steel complexes of Ajaokuta, Delta (Warri) and Itakpe (Iron-Ore mine). This line that stretches from Itakpe through Ajaokuta to Warri is at 90% completion level and would be put into full operational use this year as a Concession line to the operators of the concessioned Ajaokuta Steel Plants.

The emergence of the Nigerian Government Railways in 1912 was paradoxical and challenging especially with the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914. Railway development in Nigeria during this period brought in its wake great socio-cultural impact as seen in the movement of traders from different regions and ethnic background to commercial towns created by railway activities. Besides normal commercial activities in these new commercial towns, inter-ethnic marriages, new dressing habits, food and languages and new tourist attractions, have emerged including mega towns referred to in Nigeria as Railway Towns. These include Lagos, Umuahia, Zaria, Kano, Kafanchan, Jos, Enugu, Aba and Port Harcourt.

The establishment of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1955 with sole responsibility for the provision of rail transport in Nigeria provided an exciting opportunity for the movement of goods and persons across the country. The corporation performed reasonably well between 1955 and 1979. In the period 1972 – 1979, in spite of efforts by Government to rehabilitate and reposition the sector, a steady process of decline in its business operations had set in.
This process was later accelerated by the systemic decay of the Corporation’s entire infrastructure, manpower and institutions.

Statistics on passenger and freight traffic show that while the Corporation in 1964 carried 11,288,000 passengers and 2,960,000 tonnes of freight, these figures dropped to 4,342,000 passengers and 1,098,000 tonnes of freight in 1974. Thereafter passenger traffic gradually grew back to 6.7 million in 1978 and reached a peak of 15.5 million in 1984 with the help of RITES of India brought in by our military administration. This declined again to 3.0 million in 1991 and 1.6 million in 2003. The same dismal performance is also reflected in the freight traffic fluctuation from 3 million tones in the 1960’s and 1970’s to less than 100,000 tonnes in recent times.

The same deplorable performance is reflected in the 6% daily locomotive availability rate and in the fact that only 25% of the over 700 Coaches and 4,000 wagons were available for use in recent times. It was certainly a combination of corruption, poor management, inefficiency, lack of adequate marketing, failure to develop new lines and to plan ahead or introduce new technology and adapt to global best practices that saw the near total collapse of the railway in Nigeria.

Government made several efforts in the last 20 years to address the deterioration. Such efforts included:

(a) Techno-Managerial Services by Rites of India (1979 – 1982);

(b) Romanian Project for the supply of Rolling Stock and
Workshop equipment (1986 – 1996) but inconclusive; and

(c) CCECC Track Rehabilitation and some Rolling Stock (1995 – 2003).

In addition to these efforts, studies were concluded on how to get the railway started including the 25-Year Vision Plan which provided the global framework and benchmark for possible Rail expansion and modernization for over 8,000 kms linking all State Capitals and major population centres and industrial areas in the country to be developed over a period of twenty-five years. The report was prepared in 2002.

As part of the effort to bring in private capital, skills and technology, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) is already considering the possibility of concessioning the existing East, West and Central lines (i.e. Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri with link line from Kafanchan to Kaduna; Lagos to Kano; and Itakpe to Ajaokuta to Warri Rail Lines respectively). Even this requires minimal rehabilitation to get value for money from concessionaires.

Today, we have a new vision, a new commitment, and a holistic strategic plan encompassing expansion and modernization of the Railway to be implemented within a 25-year time frame. Various scenarios and options of commencing and progressing with the implementation of the Plan have been presented for consideration at various fora. Following the presentation of Draft Final Proposal to the Federal Executive Council on 19th July, 2006 the Federal Government endorsed an implementation Plan entailing:

(a) 3 Nos. Longitudinal Lines, Lagos – Up North, Warri – Up North and Port Harcourt – Up North

(b) 4 Nos. Latitudinal Lines; and

(c) Branch and Extension Lines.

This covers all the State Capitals and major commercial centers in the country. Within this framework, it is further agreed that the 1st Phase of the Railway Line should entail the Lagos–Kano Standard gauge, double track railway line spanning over 1315 kilometers with a loop from Minna to Abuja and only Abuja to Kaduna being single track due to inadequate anticipated traffic. It was further agreed that the scope of work, segmentation and construction will follow 5 segments:

1. Lagos – Ibadan

2. Ibadan – Ilorin

3. Ilorin – Minna

4. Minna – Kano; and

5. Minna – Abuja – Kaduna.

This new approach will significantly impact on our people and their communities. It will ease movement, reduce reliance on vehicles and the airport, promote tourism, and build on the foundations of integration, unity, cooperation, and social harmony that we have been working so hard to consolidate.

The design criteria or technical features are:

1. A speed of 120 to 150 km/hour for passenger service

2. A speed of 80km/hour for freight service

3. Rail gauge of 1435 mm Standard Gauge

4. Maximum gradient of 12%, and in exceptional situations 15%;

5. Minimum curve radius: ordinary terrain 2000m, difficult terrain 1200m;

6. Traction type: diesel-electric engine (3 phase engine).

7. Axle weight: 23 tons

8. Type of rail: 60kg/m

9. Block type: computer interlocking, inter-station automatic block, subject to being upgradeable.

10. Continuous welded rail shall be applied on all the tracks.

The construction of the rail line will employ tens of thousands of Nigerians immediately. The entire project will promote technology transfer, the building of new skills, and the development of rail allied industries. As much as possible, local materials will be used.
Furthermore, the towns and communities around the railways will experience an improved socio-economic activity that reduces their unemployment rates.

Fellow Nigerians, this is a critical stage of our national economic growth and development. Our much desired national economic growth, development and cohesion can only be achieved with a modern and virile transportation system of which railway is a very critical part. Therefore, all Nigerians should co-operate with the Government, its consultants and contractors to ensure that the project is completed at the scheduled time for the benefit of all.

Phase I is scheduled to be completed in four years at a cost of $8.3 billion of which $2 billion is being obtained as soft loan from the Chinese Government. Phase II, which will be the second spine of the backbone- Port Harcourt to Jos, with the same design criteria, will follow on the heels of Phase I.

In this regard, those who have encroached on railway land should quietly leave such piece of land to save the Government and themselves the effort of using all means to reclaim such right of way. There will also be need to acquire new land for the modernization and expansion to new locations. I appeal to State Governments and land occupiers to co-operate in making land available for this all-important project.

By the grace of God Almighty, contract formalities for the award and commencement of Lagos–Kano 1st Phase Project of the modernization programme will be signed this month; and construction work will commence immediately thereafter.

To start with, the Federal Government is committing the sum of US$2.5 billion dollars – one billion dollars from the Chinese Government concessionary loan and with one and a half billion dollars Federal Government counterpart additions between 2006 and 2007. It is my hope that subsequent Administrations will buy into this vision and that other friendly countries will offer similar concessionary loan assistance to continue the project in the years ahead with the possibility of a West African regional railway system.

I look forward to the successful completion of the first phase of the Project and the realization of our 25-Year Rail Vision for our benefit and those of succeeding generations. Let us collectively welcome the new future of railway service in Nigeria.

May God continue to bless our dear country, Nigeria.

Thank you

Give others space! I know ur Internet fast! This is for comments not essay

My own is this! Amaechi, u can talk about railway when u duped us of ours? Daris God

I have been saying dis since I join nairaland! People come here and blab without knowing what goes on there! Our place b like ghetto! Nothing! Not even light! Water! Mosquitoes ehhhh

This dude is a big ass! He reduced salries in the banking sector n civil servants money all in the name of economist but build house worth 20b... stingy selfish goat

Either mtn give una Live streaming or download or u watch am for youtube! We no want am! Period!

DynamoDeGreat:
APC 'wasted' 365 days and PDP wasted 16 years. Between 365 days and 16 years which one is bigger.

As for me and other millions of well thinking Nigerians

#WeStandWithBuhari

Are u referrinG to pdp or APC pdp 16 years? think twice Biko! APC is filled with pdp 16 Yrs defectors n ur here zombieing

E no go pass yoruba girl! If na me dem no send! Wht about other unemployed Nigerians?

Akwa ibom man a Nigerian president, problem! Igbo man, problem! Hausa, problem! Yoruba, problem! We wil always have problems cuz of our greed! Lack of love and ethnic n religious shits!

Ok! Let's try foreign president! Still, problem!
Nigerians! Na wa

remsonik:
They are looking for the avengers. If you behave yourself and tell your kinsmen also to behave they won't come close to you. Stop blowing up pipelines

Pay a little visit to the town town question!

banmee:
It's a legitimate thread. Way better than those top 10 crap we keep seeing on fp. Just because you can't cook doesn't mean you should take it out on every one else.

I gues ur a better cook! Fb my ass