Why rail transport failed –Senator

Posted by admin Legislature, Senate Thursday, October 6th, 2011

The Senate Committee Chairman on Land Transport, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’U has attributed failure of rail transport in Nigeria to inconsistency in government’s transport policy and lack of regular pattern of railway development.

He added that the rail system, which began in Lagos in 1898 had over the years become inefficient and had hardly developed over the past 100 years, compared to what obtained in the developed world.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee, Senator Ya’U said Nigeria had only 3,505 route km of railways of which 1,788km were sharp curves.

“The pressure Nigerian roads take from heavy vehicular movement all year round is the main trigger for the consequent dilapidation of the roads. The worsening gridlock of traffic jams on Nigerian roads simply highlights the overwhelming need to invest in more efficient means of transportation and commuters.”

He explained that in a developed world, transport policy was dynamic and change was always in response to technological trends in transport sector, adding that government policy in respect of rail transport innovation and development needed to be fairly consistent but should be limited to policy making and execution.

In his inauguration remarks, Senate President David Mark said henceforth, any investment on rail system “must be done in such a manner for Nigerians to see and have value for the money, believing that there should be a change from the old gauge and move to the modern gauge.”

-Sunwp_posts