Page 56 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 15

Innovate Afrika

line. The project, which is funded transport a lot of Iron Ore deposits from China Civil Engineering Construc-
by China`s Exim Bank and the the North East through the Port Har- tion Corporation (CCECC). The
Nigerian government, is being built court – Maiduguri rail. The completion of project was started in March 2017.
in segments to spread the cost over this project which we hope that if it doesn’t The line is now in service and has
time. start this year, will start the first quarter 10 stations.
of next year, the completion, will move
The new metro light rail system in cargo, create employment, create industrial The main station is in Lagos and
Abuja will be connected to the Na- development and it will grow the economy.” will act as the operations centre as
tional Rail Network. Abuja Airport well as a passenger terminus. Ini-
is also connected to the new metro Transport Minister Amaechi tially 3 pairs of trains will run each
network and the city centre (Abuja’s explained that ports and rail work day. The maximum capacity that the
Central Business District). The Abu- together: project is designed to accommodate
ja Metro is the first light rail system is an incredible 15 pairs (inward and
in West Africa. The metro relieves “Currently, Nigerians move about 30 outward bound) per day!
traffic congestion, is reliable, fast million cargoes between Lagos and Kano
and safe, and cheaper than local tax- in a year. The capacity of the Nigerian The building which is still under
is.The metro will link Abuja with the Railway Corporation as of today is about construction, will be a colossal
towns of Nyanya, Kubwa, Mararaba 200,000 cargoes per year. That’s appall- 11,200 square meters. It will be the
and Lugbe in the near future. ing. So, if you want to make the factors largest railway station in West Africa
of production to be cheap and make our with a capacity for 6000 passengers.
Expansion is planned for the ports goods competitive, then you must provide It was hoped that the building will
at Lekki and Bonny to make them logistics, either the road, by air or by rail- be completed by the end of 2020.
deep water harbours of between 17 way. But the cheapest form of transport
-18 metres deep. A new river port in this regard is the railway because it’s Investment in infrastructure leads to
will be built at Warri and Ibom. subsidised by the government. So the idea the growth of ancillary industries.
of complying with the instruction by the In the case of the Nigerian Rail-
Lekki Port expansion is under president that all railways must terminate way Modernization Project, a new
construction. It will be Nigeria`s at the seaport is because you want to move factory in Kajola, Ogun Province is
deepest sea port and is situated your cargo. The moment you begin to move just one example. The factory will
in the Lagos Free Trade Zone. It cargo, you’ll see the transformation. The bring an initial 5000 jobs and will be
will be one of the most modern movement of cargo will improve the indus- manufacturing the rolling stock for
in West Africa. Minister of Trans- trial development of Nigeria.” the new, modernized railways. It will
port, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has then proceed to supplying the rest
tasked the project managers with The Lagos to Calabar line will run of West Africa and beyond!
commencement of commercial along the coast. It will be 1,400 km
activities by 2022. and will link all the key sea and river This rolling stock, the carriages, are
ports.It will run from Calabar – Uyo super modern. Each compartment
The Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail – Aba – Port Harcourt – Yenogua – is not only luxurious and spacious
line will link the north eastern Otuoke – Ughelli – Warri – Sapele – but is also equipped with phone
region to the eastern sea port of Benin – Ore – Ijebu-Ode – Lagos. charging facilities for each seat.
Bonny which has been approved There are overhead luggage com-
already, work will commence soon. The Abuja to Kaduna rail line is partments, tables, adjustable seats,
From Bonny the line will go to Port completed and in service since 2016. bar and restaurant facilities and
Harcourt – Aba- Umuahia – Enugu It is 186km long. Itakpe-Warri line is each compartment has a television
– Makurdi – Lafia – Jos – Kafan- completed which is 326 kilometres screen.
chan – Bauchi – Gombe – Damatu- long.
ru, and Maiduguri, with a spur from Nigeria: Value Addition in Agricul-
Port Harcourt to Owerri. The Lagos-Ibadan line is the first ture
double-track standard gauge modern
According to the Transport Minister railway in West Africa.It is 156km In 2015, Nigeria initiated the Value
Amaechi : long. Track-laying of the high speed Chain Development Program that
“Where we have about two seaports or riv- standard gauge railway from Lagos is improving cassava and rice value
er ports in Port Harcourt, you’ll be able to to Ibadan was constructed by the chains for small farmers in target-

56 | we tell the true afrikan story