ASCON Makes Case For Railways Dev

The Administrative
Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON). South-South Zone,has called on the federal government to take proactive steps to ensure that the rail transport, which is a prime mover of goods in the land transport, is developed.
South-South Zonal Director of ASCON, Mike Uwetodo, who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen, Wednesday, in Port Harcourt, urged the present administration to make it a priority to develop the railway system.
According to him, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in 2002 tried to put standard gauges on ground, while the Goodluck Jonathan’s government did much to consolidate on the gains already made.
Recounting the importance of the rail transport on the economy, the South-South zonal director explained that the system plays crucial role in the movement of large volume of agricultural produce from  the hinter-land to the urban centres.
Apart from the cheap cost of movement of goods from the hinter-land to the urban centres, he said that the rail system is a safer mode of delivery of goods, as well as helps in reducing pressure on the roads.
Uwetodo also urged the Federal Government to be more watchful on the type of locomotive engines, that are brought to the country, as well as the train coaches that are brought, so as to enable the people benefit from the rail system in the country.

Corlins Walter