Stakeholders in the transportation sector have called on the Federal Government to link the Warri-Itakpe standard gauge rail line to inland ports and road networks to create seamless multimodal transport system.
They made the call while responding to a national survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the state of railway lines in the country.
Inaugurated for commercial operation in Sept. 2020, after more than three decades delay, the 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail line currently connects Warri in Delta State to Itakpe in Kogi State.
The rail line was originally designed to transport iron ore and coal from Itakpe to Ajaokuta Steel Mill and Aladja Steel Rolling Mills in Delta.
Since it’s inauguration, the rail line has facilitated the movement of goods and passengers between the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.
Speaking with NAN in Lokoja, Mr Shittu Adams, a retired Director in Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), said the railway line should be integrated with existing waterway and road networks, along the corridor, to create seamless transport system.
Adams said the integration of the rail line will facilitate more efficient cargo and passenger transportation and enhance trade, economic growth, and overall connectivity.
Specifically, he said Warri, where the rail terminated is a major port city, the integration will, therefore, allow for seamless transfer of goods between the railway and the waterway transportation system in the region
Adams also urged the federal government to integrate the rail line with existing road networks, particularly in Warri and other key locations, to ensure efficient transfer of goods and passengers to and from the rail line.
The director decried the high level of bureaucracy and poor governance leading to inefficient management and lack of transparency in the management of the rail infrastructure
He said the challenges contributed to the delays and underperformance of services rendered along the corridor.
Adams also faulted the outdated signaling systems, ticketing processes, and operational logistics which, according to him, are affecting speed and efficiency of the rail operations.
“There is the need for training and retraining of personnel in modern rail operations to enhance efficiency and safety.
“I will also suggest long-term and consistent government policies, that will attract investment and provide a clear direction for rail sector growth, in general,” he said.
He urged the federal government to provide a clear and enabling regulatory framework that will encourage private investment and ensures safety standards in the railway operations.
Speaking in the same veins, Mr Taiye Bolaji, the Director Road Maintenance, Kogi State Ministry of Works, said the Warri-Itakpe rail line, like most others, connect only a few major cities and do not reach key agricultural or industrial hubs, limiting the utility of the system.
He said the Warri-Itakpe rail line has not connected the Lokoja metropolis and Obajana, where Dangote Cement Plant and Mangal Cement Plant are located.
Bolaji, therefore, advocated the expansion of the rail network to connect key agricultural zones, seaports, mining areas, and industrial cluster, in order to improve the movement of raw materials and finished goods.
He appealed to the federal government to expedite the extension of the railway line to Lokoja, Kogi state capital and a home to an inland port, for seamless transfer of goods and people.
Bolaji said that, from Lokoja, the rail line should be extended to Abuja,, thereby connecting the northern part of the country to the southern region, via rail.
According to him, the integrated transportation system will boost economic activities, reduce transportation costs, and create new opportunities.
Dr Simeon Omakoji, former Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Chairman in Kogi, said the major challenges facing railway transport in Nigeria are corruption and inability to factor regular maintenance.
Omakoji, the incumbent Chairman, Kogi East Security Neighborhood Watch, advocated for improved maintenance culture, e-ticketing and more transparent financial management in the railway operations.
He stressed the need for people to invest in the railway system, while the government develop the political will to make the system work effectively.
Another stakeholder, Mr Ukwunetu Samuel-Ali, said Nigeria’s rail infrastructure, used to be a symbol of prosperity and connectedness.
He said the rail infrastructure was, however, for many years, subjected to neglect and under investment resulting in vandalism and encroachment if rail tracks and infrastructure.
Samuel-Ali, therefore, urged the federal government to sustain the initiative to revitalise and modernise the rail network across the country.
