By Annah Iyana Daniel.
The story of our transportation system has been told serially in the light of the prevailing circumstances of despair among Nigerian citizens. With our massive land and a dwelling population of over 150 million people traversing the over 33,000 kilometres of road network in Nigeria, the neglect and consequent rot and decay of our transportation systems carried on majorly through roads,rail and waterways, all these years, has left a sour taste in the mouth of the citizenry.
When President Goodluck Jonathan assumed office on 29 May, 2011, he made a comendable decision through his road reforms agenda to carry out major road rehabilitations along with a total reforms in the transportation sector noting that a nation's growth and development is critically tied to the nature of its transportation system.
(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Rail-Coaches.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/11-7million-passengers-conveyed-by-rail-on-lagos-kano-route-transport-minister/rail-coaches/)While the roads were being revisited by the Federal Ministry of Works and its agencies, notably the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Federal Ministry of Transport was working frantically through its agencies – the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), the National Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Ports Authority.
Air transportation was not left out as the Ministry of Aviation and its agencies were also working hard to revamp air transportation for safety and comfort of air passengers. Reports from passengers using the revamped airport facilities say, the nation did not have it so good till now; even though we may have to wait till the Minister of Aviation takes her turn to give the scorecard of the air transport sector at the on-going mid-term ministerial platform to get the rest of the revelations.
The three agencies of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), and Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) of the Federal Ministry of Works, the major agency of the Government to drive through the road reform, the nation was told, are currently undergoing review with the aim of incorporating and strengthening private sector and State and Local Governments' participation in the transport sector.
One noticeable arrow head for revitalizing the transport sector has been the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).
Through the NRC, the rail lines were given renewed attention which was unprecedented since the 1980s. The Administration's determination to revive and modernize the railway system is in line with the 25 year strategic vision to bring back the railways to remove the pressure on roads. Nigerian roads, in the assessment of the Government, have been bearing more than its fair share of load and uses, hence most of the wear and tear noticed on the roads. The railways must be brought back.
Achievements in the 'bring back the railway' resolve so far recorded during the 2-years, the President has been on the saddle, were impressive. This is getting obvious even to the common man using the rail facilities which come cheaper and safer. Since its coming back, the Nigerian rail transport has not witnessed any bad incident.
The narrow gauge lines rehabilitation is over 90% completed. The main Western line, Lagos – Kano, has got no less than 1,124km of it, completed and passenger services and haulage of goods along the line flagged off in December, 2012. The Eastern line which ran from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri has got not less than 1,657km of it, expected to be completed before the end of 2013. That was a promise the Minister of Transport, said, his Ministry should be held to. He said, the 2013 completion date is realistic, given the pace of work and delivery of equipment and materials already made.
Still reviewing our transportation sector, railway services at the ports is a critical factor.
The railways, properly linked to the ports will help to evacuate imported goods to where they are required. In the area of ports, the administration revealed that the contract for the rehabilitation of Apapa Port railway network and signal works, which is made up of double track of 1.5km each was executed by NPA in the sum of N860,657,797.23 and completed in November, 2012. 'The nation was told that the rehabilitation of the mainline from Ebute Meta Junction to Apapa Local Station by NRC is completed; while the sidings are in the process of being rehabilitated.
Of our waterways, more so, in the area of dredging in the last 24 months, the nation's maritime services agency, NIMASA reported to the nation through the Transport Minister that it has removed 62 critical wrecks from our water channels which allowed for the dredging of the channel to make room for bigger vessels. Nineteen more wrecks were due for removal from the Lagos channel.
In view of the above appreciable benefits recorded in the tranportation sector, movements of wheats from Apapa to Kaduna and Kano; weekly movement of petroleum products equivilent to 30 tankers from Lagos up to Kano; frequent movement of cements to different parts of the country; heavy equipment materials for NRC contracts to various locations and passenger services through the railway system from Lagos –Kano and Offa –Kano weekly; the intercity and intracity services of the railways, recorded on daily basis and even the transformation of our airport terminals, e.t.c, are plausible achievements for the nation.
Furthermore, some of the ways of improving the Nigerian transportation system can be more seen through work on creeks and road links to the wharfs.
While one can rightly say that there is hope in the horizon, given the emerging transportation system of our dream as a nation, there is even a greater despair on the part of the citizenry who expect government to address the challenges more urgently and more proactively.
Annah Iyana Daniel, an Information Officer works at the National Press Centre.Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria