From right: Chad Minister of Transportation, Fatima Goukoni Weddeya, President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar and representive of Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani at the conference on railway
By Anthony Maliki
The need to enhance railway transportation system for easy movement of commuters and freight in Africa has been stressed by stakeholders in the sub-sector at an International Railway Conference and Exhibition in Abuja Tuesday.
The event was organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in conjunction with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Transportation and African Railway Consulting Limited.
The theme of the conference is “Powering AfCFTA with sustainable railway development.”
Among participants are transportation ministers from various African countries, captains in the sub-sector and some academics who joined via zoom.
Chad Republic Minister of Transportation, Fatima Goukoni Weddeya in her remarks encapsulating the railway sector profile of her country.
According to her, as a landlock country, Chad has evaluated linkages by rail to various nations but the lack of funds, technical know-how and insecurity have been hampering the project.
The Minister noted that because of these challenges, Chad cannot encourage investors to development railway links.
She pointed out that among others, the link between Ndjamena and Duala in Cameroon is 1700 kilometres, Chad and Lagos in Nigeria, 1900 kilometres while to Maiduguri, Borno State is 200 kilometers. From Chad to Niamey in Niger Republic, 2000 kilometres, Chad and Libya, 3500 kilimetres and Chad to Sudan 3350 kilometres.
Representative of Republic of Guinea, Tenguiano Rose Kasso who spoke on behalf of her country’s Minister of Transportation noted that with recommendation from ECOWAS a rail line is being developed from Conakry-Kankar-Bamako-Burkina-Faso-Niger Republic.
She, however, said some of the countries the link is passing through are not contributing financially to the project.
According to her, there are 1300 kilometres of railway lines in Guinea which are quite standard with four lines dedicated to the development of the mineral sector.
She also said 550 kilometres of rail lines are being developed for the exploration of iron in the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani said the implementation of the 25 Year Strategic Vision for the development of the Nigerian Railways has suffered setback due to discrepancies in Government policies, inadequate funding of the rail sector, absence of adequate, capable and experienced Private Investors amongst others.
The vision plan centred on three pillars with the aim to bringing the sector into 21st Century expectation and to be carried out in phases.
According to the Minister, the First Phase was to be implement between 2002 and 2007 and entails complete rehabilitation and reconstruction of the deteriorated Narrow Gauge rail lines which consists of the Western 1, 621 Km track and Eastern 1,884 Km track rail lines.
It also included the restructuring of both the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and its management necessary to revamp and sustain the development of the systems.
The Second Phase which is from 2002 to 2015 was to develop standard gauge railways to connect all the capital cities, commercial centres, minerals and agricultural centres in the country.
The Third Phase is the System Stabilization period from 2016 to 2027 is envisaged completion of prioritized standard gauge railways with further constructions of extended rail lines to strategic sites and locations.
Sambo pointed out that upon assumption of office since in 2015, the present administration took railway development as one of its cardinal projects to ensure that it actualizes its infrastructure development Master Plan and achieved a lot.
In his speech to the conference, the Minister of the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said although still in its infancy, the FCT have big plans for the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system and are working hard to ensure its growth into becoming one of the best managed rail systems not just in our country but indeed on the continent.
In his remarks, the President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar explained that the conference seeks to ignite conversation around the development of the railway system in Africa and how Africa can power continental free trade with sustainable railway development agenda.
He said the state of railway development in Africa demands an urgent meeting of all critical stakeholders to brainstorm on fast tracking rail connectivity to meet the demands of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Dr. Abubakar explained that the conference becomes necessary due to the important of rail transportation to development.
“Railways are a climate-smart and efficient way to move people and freight. It promotes economic growth while cutting greenhouse gas emissions”, he noted.
In his speech, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the conference, Engineer Jimoh Yusuf said Africa is undergoing a silent railway revolution.
He pointed out that across the continent, several green and brown field rail projects are ongoing, a development that coincides with the making of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Both Dr. Marcelo Blumenfeld of the University of Birmingham, England spoke on “Zero carbon systems for railways in Africa” and Dr. Andre Giuricin, a Senior Rail Consultant and Adjunct Professor, University of Milan, Italy joined via zoom.
Engineer Christopher Chigbo, formally of the FCT Transportation secretariat was duly recognized at the event for his transportation development efforts in the FCT.
From right: ACCI Director-General, Dr. Victoria Akai, Guinea’s Tenguiano Rose Kasso and Engineer Christopher Chigbo formally of FCT Transportation Secretariat
