Nigeria to develop 3,318km of rail lines

Nigeria has announced plans to develop about 3,318 kilometers of rail lines with the aim of boosting intra-African trade.

Minister for Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, confirmed the report and said feasibility studies have already been conducted on selected route alignments it considered viable for development. The, inlcude: Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Kaura Namoda-Sokoto-Illela-Birnin Koni, which is 520km; Lagos-Ibadan-Oshogbo-Baro-Abuja, 615km; Ilela-Sokoto-Jega-Yauri-Makera, about 408km; Aba-Ikpene-Ibiono-Itu (Spur Uyo) Odudukpani-Calabar, about 340km, Calabar-Ikom-Obudu-Ogoja-Wukari-Yola-Maiduguri, 1,068km and Kano-Nguru-Gashua-Damaturu-Ngala, which is 707km.

Railway development

President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar, said railway development in Africa demands urgent attention. He noted that railway remains a climate-smart and efficient way to move people and freight. Quoting an African Business Forum report, he said over 25% of intra-African trade gains in services would go to transport alone; and nearly 40% of the increase in Africa’s services production would be in transport under AfCFTA.

“According to the research findings, AfCFTA requires 1,844,000 trucks for bulk cargo and 248,000 trucks for container cargo by 2030. This increases to 1,945,000 and 268,000 trucks, respectively, if planned infrastructure projects are also implemented. The largest demand for trucks to support AfCFTA is within West Africa (39 per cent); demand from West to Southern Africa is 19.8 per cent; and from Southern Africa to Western Africa, 9.9 per cent. unless Africa is linked by railway network, projected boost in intra-African trade, as envisaged under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), would remained a mirage,” Dr. Al-Mujtaba noted.