The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has been losing at least N208 million each year since 2014 in its eastern rail line, by far the most lucrative route, investigations have proven. The eastern rail corridor connects Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta – passing through Aba, Umuahia, Uzuakoli, Enugu, Makurdi before terminating at Maiduguri in the north-eastern Borno State near border with Chad Republic.

In the last five years, the corporation has lost not less than N1.04 billion on the eastern rail line, due to non-operation. The NRC has total route-km of 3,528km as of 2007. The western line which connects Lagos Nguru, Yobe State covers a distance of 1,126km.

Findings showed that an eight-coach train running from Port Harcourt to Aba, Umuahia, Uzuakoli to Enugu makes not less than N2 million per trip. Since the train was making two trips a week from Port Harcourt, it would make N4 million weekly; multiplied by 52 weeks a year, the NRC would realise N208 million; across the five years it has not operated, the corporation lost N1,040 billion.

Olusoji Osidipe, the eastern wing district manager of NRC office in Enugu, confirmed to our correspondent hat the railway has not operated in the zone for the past five years. He said it was as a result of vandalization of the rail lines at certain portions by unknown individuals.

He blamed the vandals for apparently not understanding the economic importance of rail transport, and its quick impact in boosting the economic development of an area hosting the rail line or station.

Further investigations revealed that apart from Osidipe’s rail-track vandalization claim, the long disuse of the rail lines by NRC predisposed them for the vandals to have easily made away with rail parts. But a major issue we found out was that many parts of the rail lines between Aba and Enugu and beyond have gone sorely bad. Some rail bridges have been weakened due to non-servicing by NRC, and need urgent reconstruction, if not outright replacement. Also, some portions of the rail-track have had the soil around it washed away by sheet erosion. They need urgent reconstruction before train can pass on them comfortably.

The reason why Nigeria Railway Corporation abandoned the Port Harcourt – Aba – Enugu rail line immediately after the last administration five years ago could not be understood by some workers and officials of the corporation who spoke with our correspondent, but preferred not to be mentioned in the press.

Contract to rehabilitate the rail line from Port Harcourt to Makurdi was awarded during the last administration to Eser West African Company Limited by the administration of former president, Goodluck Johnathan. The company was said to have largely completed the contract by 2014, and train operations began from Port Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Uzuakoli, passing Enugu to Makurdi.

Osidipe rather called on the villagers along the rail tracks to assist the NRC in monitoring the rail-tracks from being tampered with by the vandals.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to make a law that would prohibit buying and selling of railway materials from iron melting companies without clearing from the NRC; insisting that it would be one of the measures to stop rail lines vandalization in many parts of the country.

The NRC eastern wing district manager Osidipe also said erosion and landslide have equally gravely affected many areas of the rail tracks in the eastern district, and confirming the weakness of some of the rail bridges.

Many also adduced that NRC’s decision to suddenly stop usage of the eastern district rail line that opened it up for eventual vandalization, since this had not happened in the past. Many yet question why the sudden stoppage without giving any reason.

Business activities along the sub-stations have equally stopped abruptly. Petty traders and hawkers who operated along the rail route have been forced out of business, with special reference to Aba – Umuahia – Uzuakoli – Enugu rail corridor where railway-propelled small-scale business was a big commercial avenue. All this is gone. Today, the Enugu Railway Station, the biggest rail terminus east of the Niger, wears a forlorn look. The entire environment looks eerie. Old unserviceable rail coaches litter everywhere around the station and the rail tracks.

Meanwhile, the east line rail line failure apart, all the federal roads in the south-east are gone. The Enugu–Port Harcourt expressway, Enugu–Onitsha federal highway, Umuahia–Ikot-Ekpene–Itu–Calabar, Owerri–Onitsha, Okigwe–Owerri, Orlu–Ekwulobia–Awka highways are death traps. Transport fares on the roads have hit new highs, thereby further raising food prices in the zone.

Source: https://www.businessamlive.com/nigerian-railway-loses-n1-04bn-in-5yrs-on-eastern-rail-operations/amp/

Amaechi a disappointment to South East because of 5% vote

There's been no major updates for the past year. The FG concessioned the narrow guage lines to Transnet to rehab. NRC should've got this narrow gauge concession taken care of by now. The government should focus on making more money moving cargo. NRC making more than previous years revenue but it could be better.

It's up to NRC to increase the number of coaches, haul containers and make some money

What is d current minister for railway transport Rotimi Ameachi doing about it?

johnmba:
Amaechi a disappointment to South East because of 5% vote

this is not because of Ameachi bro, the economic recession has an adverse massive effect hit on all sectors of the economy.

There is nobody in East to ride train. Where dem wan ride train go, Sambisa? Now, connect rail line from Onitsha to Yorubaland....come see as my people go pile full the train.

Olee ebe ndim no ututu a?? NRC chọrọ ịkụda ahịa maka Young Shall Grow! Shyyte!

johnmba:
Amaechi a disappointment to South East because of 5% vote

Not Amaechi power to determine where to build rail line.

hisgrace090:



Not Amaechi power to determine where to build rail line.

He can powerfully influence it as Minister of Transport. Besides from the article the problem isn't building the railways, but rehabilitation & maintenance.

Unfortunately SEners have attacked, victimized and rejected the same hardworking Amaechi endlessly to the point that the man doesn't care anymore and has instead been seriously focused on delivering railways in every other part of the country.

I wonder the kind of railways expected from a "lizard" of Ubima.

Eastern ports: no operation
Eastern airport (Enugu): no operation
Eastern roads: in very bad shape with over a thousand Police checkpoints extorting the people with guns
Eastern rails: no operation

Abuja to Algiers transahara road: Eastern roads not included.
If they ask for their Biafra we clap when the Army opens fire on them with pythons dancing.
If they ask for presidency to be rotated to benefit them also, we remind them that politics is a game of numbers.

But Eastern oil rigs feeding the nation:FULL OPERATION

Person use Nigeria pant plus up since

na wa

wetin come they function for Ibo land




..

A serious govt dat is keen on improving d economy would have considered dis an opportunity. There is massive movement of goods and services to d East and with d state of d roads d rails would have been a lucrative option for dem...

Where is Oga Ameachi ??


Meanwhile, HP Wireless 2630 4-in-1 Printer is available for sales @ 10k, working perfectly, check my signature for contact.

johnmba:
Amaechi a disappointment to South East because of 5% vote

Can you plant rocks and harvest tomatoes?

Asnafsaeed:
Erosion/potopoto ravaged region! This is the only type of railway suitable for their region

You know, the amount of bigotry on Niaraland is getting out of hand.

Everyday it is Afonja, Abokkee, IPOB, potopoto, etc etc...

And nothing is being done.

A simple thread on ineffiecnecies turns into a bigotry rant.

Sigh

Asnafsaeed:
Erosion/potopoto ravaged region! This is the only type of railway suitable for their region

Whoa ur stupidity is beyond bond

QuotaSystem:


He can powerfully influence it as Minister of Transport. Besides from the article the problem isn't building the railways, but rehabilitation & maintenance.

Unfortunately SEners have attacked, victimized and rejected the same hardworking Amaechi endlessly to the point that the man doesn't care anymore and has instead been seriously focused on delivering railways in every other part of the country.

I wonder the kind of railways expected from a "lizard" of Ubima.

Even then, he was appointed as Minister of Railways for the whole country, not just the North and the SOuth West.

Plus as the report says, the potential revenue from making the line run could be very very high

Plus, let's be frank, we really need to fix rails across the country. One reason our roads are getting bad is because of overuse.

Guyman02:

If they ask for their Biafra we clap when the Army opens fire on them with pythons dancing.
If they ask for presidency to be rotated to benefit the, we remind them that politics is a game of numbers.

Did anybody stop them from contesting or building alliances to gather the numbers like other regions?

No.

I'm sure you don't expect to be gifted the Presidency.

Asnafsaeed:
Erosion/potopoto ravaged region! This is the only type of railway suitable for their region

In your mind, you are a funny guy Abi, idiot this is serious matter that affects Nigerians from all over who travel to that region

QuotaSystem:


He can powerfully influence it as Minister of Transport. Besides from the article the problem isn't building the railways, but rehabilitation & maintenance.

Unfortunately SEners have attacked, victimized and rejected the same hardworking Amaechi endlessly to the point that the man doesn't care anymore and has instead been seriously focused on delivering railways in every other part of the country.

I wonder the kind of railways expected from a "lizard" of Ubima.

What's love have to do with it? Lol there's clearly something wrong with a leader who would allow his emotions to overrule pragmatic decisions. It's not enough you're paid with everyone tax dollars they also need praise. Im pretty sure Amaechi doesn't reason in such a backwards manner.

The narrow gauge concession is already approved by ICRC it's left for the FG to get deal going with concessionaire.

QuotaSystem:


Did anybody stop them from contesting or building alliances to gather the numbers like other regions?

No.

I'm sure you don't expect to be gifted the Presidency.

No need arguing with a product of quota system

Blue3k2:


What's love have to do with it? Lol there's clearly something wrong with a leader who would allow his emotions to overrule pragmatic decisions. It's not enough you're paid with everyone tax dollars they also need praise. Im pretty sure Amaechi doesn't reason in such a backwards manner.

The narrow gauge concession is already approved by ICRC it's left for the FG to get deal going with concessionaire.

Kanade21:


Even then, he was appointed as Minister of Railways for the whole country, not just the North and the SOuth West.

Plus as the report says, the potential revenue from making the line run could be very very high

Plus, let's be frank, we really need to fix rails across the country. One reason our roads are getting bad is because of overuse.

I agree with you, but the fact is in a nation with scarce resources & dozens of competing needs, interests and desired projects (equally lucrative), political influence and leverage is needed to prioritize certain projects, and you don't get such from blindly attacking the persons that could influence that choice in your favor.

So you see Blue3k2, it isn't about backwards reasoning but backwards understanding of politics and diplomacy.

MetaPhysical:
There is nobody in East to ride train. Where dem wan ride train go, Sambisa? Now, connect rail line from Onitsha to Yorubaland....come see as my people go pile full the train.

Olee ebe ndim no ututu a?? NRC chọrọ ịkụda ahịa maka Young Shall Grow! Shyyte!

Well, most Easterners

1.Travel home for Christmas. A good rail line could help with that.

2.Travel for business. Good rail line plus loigistics helps.

The thing is, our roads are wearing out because they see lots of heavy transport. If the railways are working...the load decreases, and the roads last longer.

Heightened Igbophobic decisions emanated from 'break-them-down-mentality of Islamic agenda. But, no matter the cage-them-down approach adopted, Israel must go from Pharaoh's chains one day as all the fetters of bondage will soon shatter.

MetaPhysical:
There is nobody in East to ride train. Where dem wan ride train go, Sambisa? Now, connect rail line from Onitsha to Yorubaland....come see as my people go pile full the train.

Olee ebe ndim no ututu a?? NRC chọrọ ịkụda ahịa maka Young Shall Grow! Shyyte!

As usual your low intelligent quotient manifested. The report says that it was by far the most lucrative route prior 2015 when a certain accident happened at Aso rock. The same way Owerri Airport has more traffic than all your Ogbomosho mushroom Airports.

Who cares!

NRC loss ,our local transport operators gain. Where did you think this #1.2 billion revenue entered. All the local mass transits are smilling to the bank while your wicked government is loosing money. You neglect infrastructure in the South East/ south south with the aim of underdevoloping the them. You ended up loosing money while they find alternative way to thrive. Five years later you are all over the cyberspace crying over spilt milk. NONSENSE! !!!!!!!!!

Guyman02:

No need arguing with a product of quota system

You clearly lack any answers or further argument so your exit is not surprising

The questions were very clear.

Did anybody stop them from contesting or building alliances to gather the numbers like other regions?

No.

I'm sure you don't expect to be gifted the Presidency.

East don't deserve any infrastructure from the present administration, they should wait for their looting party PDP.

Guyman02:
Eastern ports: no operation
Eastern airport (Enugu): no operation
Eastern roads: in very bad shape with over a thousand Police checkpoints extorting the people with guns
Eastern rails: no operation

Abuja to Algiers transahara road: Eastern roads not included.
If they ask for their Biafra we clap when the Army opens fire on them with pythons dancing.
If they ask for presidency to be rotated to benefit them also, we remind them that politics is a game of numbers.

But Eastern oil rigs feeding the nation:FULL OPERATION

eastern oil rigs

MetaPhysical:
There is nobody in East to ride train. Where dem wan ride train go, Sambisa? Now, connect rail line from Onitsha to Yorubaland....come see as my people go pile full the train.

Olee ebe ndim no ututu a?? NRC chọrọ ịkụda ahịa maka Young Shall Grow! Shyyte!

There are as equal northerners in the east as in the west. The same way northerners trade in the west they also trade in the east.
But hatred will not allow you people to know this