Safety and security of rail transportation in Nigeria

• Published date: 13 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

OPEIFA is the Nigeria Rail Transportation System pioneered the rapid opening of the geographical area called Nigeria.

The railway act of 1955 (as amended 2004) mandates the Corporation to develop National Rail Infrastructure and Operate Rail service on both the Narrow- and Standard-gauge rail lines. In view of the above, the Federal government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of transportation has embarked upon a public service obligation of revamping the Nigerian Railway transportation system with the aim of providing safe, secure, efficient, reliable and high-quality Train services.

Transportation infrastructure in an economy is perhaps the most fundamental developmental initiative to ensure mass transit and heavy-duty freight movement across the country; this explains the Federal Governments strong commitment to revamping and sustaining the drive for a better and sustainable rail service delivery to its populace,

The Nigeria Railway Corporation is about 124 years old (1898 to 2022).

In line with the mandate, the Federal Government has commissioned NRC's two (2) Standard Gauge rail lines on the Lagos Ibadan route (LITS) which runs between Ebute-Metta in Lagos State to Ibadan in Oyo State. AKTS runs from IDU-Rigassa (Kaduna State). To recommence shortly after atlack. Warri Itakpe Train Service (WITS), which runs between Ujevwu in Delta State to Itakpe in Kogi State. The narrow-gauge rail lines consist of the Western line which runs from Lagos (Iddo) to Kano, and the Eastern line which runs from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

The desire of the Federal Government to revamp the rail sector and make it a major player in the transportation sector is seen in its various policy documents.

The Nigeria 25 years Rail Modernisation Master Plan and the Nigerian Rail Transportation System

The Policy and implementation document was unveiled in July 2002 as a vehicle for the delivery of Sustainable economic growth (GDP contribution and Jobs creation), Social harmony (linking people and places), and Political stability (extensive connectivity without borders). In my own words;

i. Link people to Jobs

ii. Deliver products to the market

iii. Underpin supply chains and logistics

iv. Support domestic and international trade

v. Support tourism

vi. Support urban and rural economic goals

vii. Reduce poverty (by improving mobility)

viii. Improve quality of life (reduce congestion, reduce pollutions etc.)

The document comes in 3 Phases:

System Transition 2002- 2007

System Modernisation 2002-2015

System Stability 2016-2027

It recommends short, medium and long-term action plans to implement the 'vision', including strategies of implementation at the different phases.

Let me at this point call attention of the Honorable Minister of Transport to an urgent need to set up a strong technical committee to review the implementation of this fantastic and excellent document with a view to updating it as it seems the implementation mile stones are lagging and considering recent realities and opportunities facing the county as well as considering the fact that in 2022 we are still in phase 2.

The vision proposed in The Document Will Materialize Only With Strong Leadership...