On December 21, 2012, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) began the long-awaited movement of passengers and haulage of petroleum products along the western axis from Lagos to Kano. SAMSON ECHENIM, who was onboard the maiden train trip from Lagos to Kano writes that the feat opens a new chapter in the history of the nation’s transportation system.
The children wailed and waved in excitement, coming rather too close to the snaky moving train, while their parents watched from just outside their mud or grass-made huts. It was a sight long experienced for the parents, while most of the children were just beholding the train for the first time ever. It has been nearly a decade since the trains last passed the tracks to Kano all the way from Lagos.
It was the first travel on rail, conveying hundreds of passengers from Lagos to Kano by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) after rehabilitation works that cost the federal government N24.3 billion were completed on the 1126-kilometre Western corridor Lagos-Kano railway line.
The minister of transport, Sen. Idris Umar had the previous morning, December 21, 2012 in Lagos flagged off the much awaited Lagos-Kano Intercity Train Services, commuting thousands of passengers along the western axis through to Kano while the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, same day, unveiled haulage of petroleum products by railway, which lifted 450,000 litres of diesel billed from Lagos to Offa that first day.
The event attracted stakeholders such as the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, his transport commissioner, Kayode Opeifa, SURE-P representatives, past MDs of NRC, the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, freighters and oil marketers, among others, who expressed joy that the good old days of the NRC were gradually crippling in again, as the 10-tanker wagon and a 20-coach locomotive left the Ebute-Meta Terminal to Offa and Kano respectively.
“The inter modal transport system is one thing that the government of Lagos State has strived to build in the state to make movement a lot easier, as well as stir up economic growth. We are happy that by the rehabilitation of Lagos-Kano rail route, the federal government is thinking along same line for the betterment and growth of this great nation,” said Governor Fashola, who was represented by his Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) boss, Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
The maiden trip was made by 25-horse power locomotive on which 20 coaches were anchored. The computerised engine has a capacity to pull as much as 45 loaded coaches, meaning it could carry over 4000 passengers if the coaches were all loaded with people. The new system has economy, restaurant and bar, air-conditioned sleeper and seater-coaches, baggage vans and effective power generating sets to alternate energy supply for the comfort of travellers.
Moving through the Western Corridor of the country, the zealous train negotiated doggedly and diligently through the nation’s vegetations breaking its seasonal boundaries as it left the wet woods of the Western part of the country through the shrubby lands of the Central region to the dry savannahs of the North and berthing at stations designed to include all state capitals and all major towns in the axis, such as Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Ilorin, Kutienji, Minna Zaria and Kaduna, before it finally arrived the Kano Terminal destination on Saturday.
“The journey may be long, but the experience tells more of fun. It is a lot cheaper to travel by railway and one has no fear of any mishap. To say the truth, I had missed travelling by train all these years and I’m happy that the service is now back. For anyone who has the time and for traders and passengers with heavy loads, the train service is highly recommended,” said Isa Yusuf, a Minna-based businessman, who boarded the train from Lagos to Minna.
A New Beginning
For the managing director of the NRC, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, the maiden train trip from Lagos to Kano is very symbolic in that it heralds tidings of hope for Nigerians. It is the beginning of a new system of things that will boost the country’s economic terrain in no small measure.
He said, “This is very symbolic in that from now on what you will see is steady movement of freight and passengers by rail. We have already quite a number of customers falling on each other to move their freights by rail—likes of Nigeria Flour Mill, Lafarge WAPCO, Total, Dangote and A-Z, among others.
“What we are going to experience in the next couple of weeks is that major influx of passengers from the road to rail and we are starting off with the weekly service from Lagos to Kano, departing Lagos Iddo Terminal 9am every Friday and departing Kano station 9am every Monday. We are starting with this service, passing through all state capitals in the western axis and that will be in addition to the Lagos –Ilorin service that will keep running.
“We also have the Kano to Kaduna train services, which has become a very popular service and we will continue that. Gradually, we will step up the speed, availability and reliability of these train services. We are going to grow organically because it is important that we ensure that every single service is safe, reliable and with reasonable comfort.”
The Federal Ministry of Transport had in 2009 awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the long-awaited flagship project to CCECC and Constain West Africa Plc. The Chinese corporation got the 488-kilometre Lagos-Jebba axis, while Constain was awarded the 638-km Jebba-Kano end.
However, the project suffered a major setback, leading to the withdrawal of Constain from the project. Constain had to involve the CCECC in “a strategic partnership when it was obvious that it could not deliver on time, due to a major challenge at the Akire Bridge where flood washed away part of the tracks several times.
In preparation for fuel haulage by rail, the NRC had in February last year imported 20 units of pressurised fuel tanker wagons with a capacity of 40 tons and said it had plans to import additional 50 when the project kicks off. With such capacity, the 20 tank wagons are expected to take off about 30 trailers from the roads as the system begins operation.
Even though the system remains steps away from the modern rapid rail system seen in the first and some second world countries, those who witnessed the inauguration of the Lagos-Kano Intercity Train Services and passengers who boarded the train from Lagos to Kano were quick to shower eulogies on the government and the NRC.
Stakeholders had said the revival of the hitherto moribund railway infrastructure was a litmus test on the commitment of the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.
NRC’s managing director, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuwade, who noted the unceasing federal government support to ensure success of the landmark project, said the opening of the Lagos-Kano Rail route would no doubt bring a lot of socio-economic benefits to the development of the country, such as provision of employment, enhancing trade and commerce as well as taking pressure off the overstressed roads.
Govt promises more
According to the minister of transport, Sen. Idris Umar, the successful rehabilitation of the 1126-kilometre Lagos-Kano railway line and other railway projects going on all over the different corridors in the country are concrete indications of the President Gooodluck Jonathan’s administration’s commitment to enhance the transport sector.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the project, which was part-funded by the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) Umar said, “This segment which holds the key to the development of the economy of the nation from the commercial ports city of Lagos to the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria in Kano is seen as vital to the start-off of the transformation of the Nigerian economy. Government therefore invested heavily to ensure the completion of the rehabilitation of the rail line for freight and passenger services.”
He further disclosed that numerous rehabilitation of railways across the country along various corridors, as well as feasibility studies for the new standard gauge rail in several areas, which were expected to be developed through public-private partnership, would place the country in great stead for global competition in transportation.
Challenges ahead and need for private sector involvement
Despite this huge success recorded by the NRC, obvious challenges are still staring at the face of the railway corporation. More engines are needed and the coaches are far from being enough. Again, a quick metamorphosis from the narrow gauge system, through the standard gauge and to the rapid train system needs to be played out. But the NRC boss revealed a smart plan to tackle the challenge of inadequate coaches.
Appealing to the government, especially the National Assembly for more funds, Engr. Sijuwade said, “We face a number of challenges, such as insufficient locomotives and rolling stock and inadequate skilled manpower, due to funding constraints.
It is true that we do have some challenges particularly in the area of coaches and wagons, but we are doing all we can to continuously rehabilitate what we have and most importantly we are grateful to the federal government under the leadership of president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, which has actually given the approval for the manufacturing of brand new modern coaches and more units are expected to be delivered soon.”
Amidst the euphoria of what appears to be NRC’s milestone achievement and a historic bounce back, stakeholders have advised that the corporation ensures regular maintenance of the tracks and sidelines to avoid the mistake of the past. They also urged a quick review and amendment of the NRC Act by the National Assembly to ensure investment by the private sector in the nation’s railway development.
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