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By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The year 2023 witnessed ups and downs in the railway sector and one of the ups was commencement of the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train ride after the March 28, 2022, explosion that rocked a train along the corridor, which left some passengers dead and injured while others were abducted by terrorists.
The ugly incident left in its trail tears, sorrow and blood and officials of the corporation with the protection of security agencies worked hard to fix the tracks before operations started in February last year.
The corporation also suspended the weekly passenger train service as well as freight train service from Lagos to Kano due to the activities of vandals.
During the period under review, the Kajola railway wagon assembly plant, the first of its kind in West Africa, was built by China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCECC) under its corporate social responsibility programme.
The assembly plant was declared open by the former Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Muazu, amid pomp at a well-attended ceremony.
Passenger train fares were increased astronomically in the early part of 2023 as it was jerked from N460 per passenger to N700 passenger on board narrow gauge railway line from Ijoko/Kajola.
Passengers on board first class and business class from Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge railway line paid N6,000 and N4,500, respectively, while adults and minors in the standard class paid N1,000 and N2,000, respectively.
By August last year, the Nigerian Railway Police, in collaboration with other security agencies, arrested a gang of armed robbers specializing in stealing rail accessories.
According to a statement signed by Public Relations Officer, NRC, Mr. Pascal Nnorli, some nuts and clips were recovered from the hoodlums.
Train service along the Warri-Itakpe railway corridor was suspended for a while during the period under review due to an accident, which caused damage to a section of the rail tracks, but operations commenced immediately the tracks were repaired.
Minister of Transportation Senator Saidu Alkali in his first official assignment outside Abuja after assumption of office flagged off freight train service from Lagos to Ibadan as BUENO Logistics Company facilitated the movement of freight for Nigeria Tobacco Company.
Hitherto, the company had been evacuating cement from Ewekoro to Ibadan on behalf of Lafarge.
Expectations:
The managing director of the corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, said, as part of efforts to meet demand of passengers, management has concluded plans to increase frequency of Lagos to Ibadan standard gauge service from two to three per day this year.
He also hinted that frequency of freight train service from Lagos to Ibadan will be increased while government is still sourcing for fund to extend standard gauge rail line from Ibadan to Ilorin.
The NRC boss noted that work on the Markafi line, in Kaduna State, to Kano was still ongoing and the construction company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, was already approaching Kano.
According to him, the contract for the Itakpe-Abuja standard gauge railway line has already been awarded under Public-Private Partnership and the contract is expected to be reviewed this year.
As for the much touted and viable East-West railway line, Okhiria stated that the federal government is still sourcing for funds from foreign partners
He pointed out that, as part of efforts to boost train service on the standard and narrow gauge railway lines, the government has signed a contract for supply of 50 narrow gauge locomotive engines and 50 standard gauge locos.
He explained further that the locomotive engines will be supplied from China as soon as government meets its obligation of upfront payment of counterpart funding.
The MD also said plans are underway to build wagons and coaches at the Kajola railway assembly plant, which was built under CSR programme by CCECC to encourage local production and, by extension, create jobs for Nigerians.
Still on CSR, he stated that the Railway Transportation University in Daura is expected to commence admission as the structure for the university has already been put in place by CCECC.
Regarding the Kano to Maradi (Niger Republic) standard gauge railway line currently handled by Portuguese partners; Mots-Engil, Okhiria said that work is still ongoing, adding that, when completed, goods destined for Niger Republic will be evacuated from Kano to the land-locked country.
