Gains In Nigeria’s Transport Sector

The Federal Ministry of Transport comprises of several parastatals agencies such as the Nigeria Port Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN).

In the last 12 months, these agencies have discharged their mandates with varying levels of success, relative to t he challenges that they faced.

Nonetheless, some striking achievements in the transport sector included the dredging of the lower River Niger from Warri to Lokoja, as well as the rehabilitation of the Ajaokuka-Warri rail line.

The Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, says that the “capital dredging” of the river had been completed, while “maintenance dredging” is expected to be completed in 2012.

He notes that both projects stretched across Imo, Edo, Delta, Rivers, Niger, Kogi, Anambra and Bayelsa states, while also traversing about 152 communities.

Suleiman lauds the effort of the contractors handling the various projects, pointing out that areas yet to be completed were being fully addressed.

He says that the distance between Lokoja and Onitsha has been fully dredged to enable free flow of vessels and wants Nigerians to fully explore commercial activities existing in the region.

“Government has awarded contracts for the construction of river ports at Onitsha, Lokoja, Oguta Lake, Degema, Idah, Baro and other areas, to aid maritime activities.”

“We should see the dredging as an opportunity for communities to begin commercial activities that will give them money.”

“We should not fold our hands to watch existing opportunities along River Niger pass us by,” Suleiman says.

Analysts note that construction and rehabilitation of railway facilities had also received the attention of the ministry in 2010, with a view to reviving rail transportation in the country.

Thus far, there is remarkable progress on the rehabilitation of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail lines and Suleiman assures that very soon, passenger services will start on the routes.

Ministry officials say that construction of railway stations earmarked for the routes had been contracted to Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN), while the projects are expected to be completed by 2012.

Observers of the routes will particularly facilitate the conveyance of steel products and related raw materials between Ajaokuta Steel Company, Ajaokuta and the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, near Warri.

Although the project, which was initiated in 1987 by the then Ministry of Mines, Power and Steel, has spanned six administrations, Suleiman assures that it will be completed by this administration.

“At the moment, with work still ongoing, we are bill to ride a train on the route at a speed of 120km per hour,” says the minister.

Mr Elijah Adeniran, a resident engineer with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), notes that the 52km Itakpe-Ajaokuta segment of the project, constructed with the “Standard Gauge,” was inaugurated in 1991.

He points out that it was the success of the project that paved the way for the commencement of the extension of the line to Warri from Ajaokuta.

Adeniran, however, blames the delay in the completion of the project on scarcity of funds, among others.

He pleads with the minister to facilitate the release of additional funds by the Federal Government, so as to enable the completion of the project on schedule.

“The project execution experienced a lot of delays because of unsteady flow of funds. Such problem occasioned reviews, which had led to ‘Addendum 1’ and ‘Addendum 2’ of the project,” he says.

Marco Behnn, the JBN’s Divsional Manager, however, gives the assurance that his company will build a reliable infrastructure that will stand the test of time.

He discloses that the project, which costs N36 billion, covers the 274km-sectionof track from Ajokuta to Warri and another 254km of existing track rehabilitation.

“An additional 20km of track will be laid, several bridges and level crossings constructed and six stations built,” he says.

Dr Leonardo Portanora, who represents TEAM Engineering Architecture Marketing Nigeria Ltd., discloses that aside from the rail tracks, six stations will be build in Ajaokuta, Agenebode, Uromi, Agbor, Abraka and Warri, for  use by passengers.

Portanora is optimistic that “rail system” will soon become the backbone of transportation in the country.

He says that the “Coast Line” project, being contemplated, will further boost transportation in the country, as it will connect the coastal states of the Niger Delta region.

He, however, pleads with the Federal Government to adequately fund the rail projects, so as to ease the transportation problems of the citizens.

On his part, Mr Temisan Omatseye, the Director-General, Nigerian Martime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), says that his agency hopes to train more seafarers, in collaboration with some state governments, under the agency’s Seafarers Development Programme.

He says that the country was in dire need of an estimated 50,000 seafarers, to effectively run marine transportation in the country.

Omatseye, however, says that NIMASA and some state governments are currently sponsoring a total of 61 students abroad for various courses in seafaring.

“Seven states have so far keyed into the programme. Kaduna State has so far sponsored 31; Niger State, 25; while Lagos has 24,” he says.

Officials explain that the Seafarers Development Progrmame is a scholarship programme targeted at youths between the ages of 17 and 22.

To complement the activities of the transport ministry, other maritime bodies are also collaborating to make the maritime services very viable in the country.

Recently, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) held its second annual shippers’ conference. The theme of the conference was: “Trade facilitation – A catalyst for rapid economic development.

The programme sought to create a platform for the exchange of ideas and information on the most efficient and effective ways of providing shipping and related services in the country.

At the end of conference, stakeholders in the shipping industry and international trade recommended huge investment by government in ports development and maintenance.

They further requested the provision of other transport infrastructure like roads, rail lines and waterways, to ensure a seamless connection of all modes of transportation.

No doubt, 2010 has been very eventful for the nation’s transport sector and it is hoped that current gains will be consolidated in the coming year.

Asein writes for NAN.

Felicia Asein