By Fidelis Ugbomeh
The modernisation of Nigerian Railway Corporation through construction of standard gauge and revamping of narrow gauge by the Federal government has resulted to improved freight and passenger train service. Managing Director of the Corporation Engr. Fidet Okhiria in this interview with Fidelis Ugbomeh highlighted positive effects of government investment in the rail sector, challenges faced and the unbundling process. Excerpts:
The Port-Harcourt to Aba passenger train service was flagged-off recently after many years of suspension of service in that rail corridor. Can you shed more light on this and arrest of 3 culprits alongside a truck load of railway iron scraps valued at 1million at Aba North by officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps?
Commercial train service was flagged off from Port-Harcourt to Aba and back by the Minister of Transportation Sa’id Ahmed Alkali recently. The corporation offered free train service for some days in order to create awareness. Our plan is to extend the commercial service to Enugu and we are still working on that.
The Port-Harcourt-Aba commercial train service has brought a lot of relieve to passengers especially traders. Regarding vandalization, there are plans to reduce it to the barest minimum. First thing is to ensure that trains run on the tracks regularly. Once trains run regularly it will be difficult for vandals to take advantage of isolated tracks all the time to remove them.. We are also collaborating with communities along the railway corridor to report any untoward activities along the rail lines because security men and officials of NRC alone cannot do the monitoring of tracks.
How many port terminals have so far been linked with standard gauge railway lines inside the Apapa port?
About three terminals including A P Moller, ENL Consortium and Greenview have been linked by standard gauge railway tracks. There are also plans to link Tin-Can Island port with standard gauge railway track. A committee has been set-up to that effect while government is currently studying the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of linking Tin-Can Island port by standard gauge railway line. It is better to move for example cement and other manufactured goods from the ports by rail at a cheaper rate which will reflect in the final cost of such goods in the open market.
What are some of the achievements recorded during your tenure as managing director of Nigerian Railway Corporation?
The Nigerian Railway Corporation received support for the benefit of Nigerians. It received the attention of government and deserves support of Nigerians.The Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge train service started during this period. When we started operating the Abuja-Kaduna passenger train service people were reluctant to go to Rigassa in Kaduna State but today Rigassa has turned to a mini city. When the Lagos -Ibadan train service started people complained of the distance of Obafemi Awolowo train terminal at Moniya but today it has become a tourist centre. Ditto for Warri-Itakpe railway corridor where a lot of patronage has been recorded.
The corporation currently evacuates pipes from Warri-Itakpe for onward transfer by road to Abuja, Kaduna and Kano code named :A.K.K.
What about the clamour that federal government should extend the standard gauge railway line from Itakpe-Abuja?
I also support the extension of standard gauge railway line from Itakpe-Abuja because Abuja is central and other states in the eastern part of the country can connect that line through Warri. If you want to travel to Abuja from Calabar you link Port-Harcourt, then Warri and straight to Abuja through Warri-Itakpe.other adjourning states like Niger State can also be linked to Abuja by rail. Railway development is a gradual thing and cannot be completely done in one full swoop because it is capital intensive. It is however important to note that train service is better enjoyed if it is long distance. So the contruction of Itakpe-Abuja standard gauge railway line will give other states access to link the federal Capital by rail.
During the tenure of former President Mohammadi Buhari former Minister of Transportation Chibuike Amaechi, it was widely circulated that government agreed to concession Nigerian Railways to four different companies sesperately handling cargo, maintenance, passenger and signal and communications. What is the position of government concerning decentralisation of Nigerian Railways for better efficiency?
What the government is doing now in unbundling the corporateion by giving ‘track access’ to interested public and private organisations. In this regard some states like Borno, Plateau, Niger, Kaduna and Lagos have showed interest in partnership with the corporation. In the case of Lagos state, the corporation has given track access to Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority, to operate it’s commercial train service (red line) on the standard gauge track constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in return for payment based on terms of agreement between both agencies. The tracks built by NRC will be like a ‘national track’ whereby any corporate organisation, state and local governments can purchase locomotives engines and coaches and then pay Nigerian Railways to operate the locomotive engines and coaches on its tracks. This is what obtains at the airports solely owned by government and private airline operators pay Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria levies for using the runway.
What about partnership with states like Plateau, Kaduna, Niger and Borno as earlier mentioned?
As for Plateau the government as widely publicised has indicated interest in the purchase of Locomotive engines and rolling stocks. We are working on how the other states mentioned will purchase diesel for running of goods and passenger trains while the corporation will provide the rolling stocks. If the states can boost evacuation of farm products, cement amongst others from hinterland to the urban centres on behalf of farmers and manufaturers it will reduce cost of logistics goods. With the unbundling policy in place the corporation is obliged to enter into public, private partnership and not the present trend whereby everything about railways is left to the federal government.
You were quoted as saying that the corporation will soon import 50 narrow gauge Locomotive engines and 100 coaches. What exactly is in the offing in terms of importation of engines and rolling stocks?
Investment in procurement of Locomotive engines and rolling stocks is capital intensive and continuous. You don’t just buy Locomotives and Coaches and then go to bed. As the locos and coaches are getting worn-out so new ones are being imported to replace the old ones.
The Lagos to Kano passenger and goods train service was expected to commence in the early part of this year. We are in the month of May and noting seems to be in place to show any seriousness on the part of government concerning earlier touted plan to commence train service along the corridor?
Trains cannot just be operated without ensuring that the tracks are in good condition. Some sections of the tracks were vandalized in Niger, Kaduna amongst others. Once the tracks are fixed there will be a test-run before commencement of full fledged train service. The Minister has mandated that the Lagos-Kano train should commence operation and we are working towards achieving the mandate.
The Kaduna-Kano standard rail construction is another project started by the immediate past administration. What is the stage of work at Kaduna-Kano standard gauge railway corridor?
The contractor of Kaduna-Kano standard gauge railway line has since moved to site and we hope it’s completion will enhance economic activities in terms of freight and passenger transit.