The Nigeria Railway corporation moved 280,549 tonnes of cargo between 2012 and 2013, according to a report released by the Ministry of Transport.
The report, which focused on the ministry’s activities in 2012 and 2013, was made available to journalists by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Nebolisa Emodi, in Abuja on Friday.
The report stated that in 2012, 182,465 tonnes of cargo were conveyed by rail while in 2013, 98,084 tonnes of cargo were transported.
According to the report, 4,155,988 passengers were transported by rail in 2012 and 4,328,789 passengers in 2013.
It also stated that the ministry rehabilitated 1,494 kms of narrow gauge in 2012 while 1,931 kms were rehabilitated in 2013.
Furthermore, 518.7 kms of standard gauge were constructed in 2012 while 406 km of standard gauge were constructed in 2013, the report said.
“The volume of cargoes throughput stood at 77 million tonnes in 2012 and 77 million tonnes in 2013 while 80 million tonnes were being targeted in 2014. 34 wrecks and derelicts were removed in 2012; six were removed in 2013 while 30 are targeted to be removed in 2014,” Emodi stated.
On the volume of cargo moved through the inland waterways, it said that 3.4 million tonnes were conveyed in 2012, six million tonnes in 2013 while six million tonnes were targeted in 2014.
It also said that 1,308,864 passengers used the service in 2012, 3,350,000 passengers in 2013 while 3, 600,000 passengers were targeted in 2014.
It said that the number of boats, ferries, barges and vessels that navigated the waterways increased from 35,136 in 2012 to 39,000 in 2013.
The report explained that the amount of cargo conveyed by rail was as a result of a drop in haulage due to the non-completion of the rehabilitation works on haulage carriages.
According to the report, track rehabilitation work was carried out on Akere Bridge in Niger state in the Western Line during the period under review.
It stressed that the ministry’s focus was on providing safe, secure and adequate inter-modal transport system, to facilitate Nigeria’s socio-economic development and ensure the welfare of members of the public.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has commenced remodelling of existing railway stations across the country through Public Private Partnership, PPP, initiative.
Disclosing this in Abuja during a visit of the body of Permanent Secretaries, Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar said that the Federal Ministry of Transportation is focused on its mandate particularly in respect of the country’s railway system.
According to Umar, the first phase of the railway stations project, is to be remodeled and redeveloped to connect, Ebute-Meta in Lagos, to Ilorin, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Jos and Gombe.
He said, “Following the lifting of the embargo on rent and lease of Nigerian railway Corporation’s land and landed properties, the redevelopment of the Nigerian railway stations through Public Private Partnership is being processed.
“Transaction Advisers have been commissioned to drive the process for private sector participation”.
Umar underscored the modernisation of the railways stations in the country as part of the ultimate solution to the problems hampering the development of the sector.
He stated that the advertisements for the expression of interest are expected to be published next month.
The minister stated that the Federal executive Council has approved the establishment of six Inland Deep Ports also under the PPP arrangement while the federal government has given its approval of Lekki port while the other five namely Ibaka, Agge, Olokola, Badagry, and Ogidigbe/Escravos deep seaports are being processed.
He further stated that the approval of six dry ports have also been given including Isala-Ngwa in Abia state; Ibadan, Kano, Haipang in Jos, Funtua in Katsina and Maiduguri.
According to the minister, “We are working seriously to build new seaports in the country because the ports are overstretched particularly Lagos where 60 percent of our cargoes are being handled”.
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