An expert in transport and haulage consultancy, Chief Onwumere Uzonna says the inability of the Federal Government to revamp the rail transport system, is responsible for the bad state of road network across the country.
Uzonna made the assertion during an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt.
Chief Uzonna posited that efforts made by successive administrations towards road rehabilitation failed due to the moribund nature of the rail transport system.
He recalled that when rail transport was functioning effectively, the haulage of goods and services were made through the rails, adding that from Port Harcourt port, train coaches were positioned and loaded with various bulk cargoes that were transported to different parts of the country thereby giving way for free flow of traffic along the major high ways.
The transport expert regretted that the reverse is the case today as heavy duty trucks with more than 30 metric tones capacity ply the roads, causing major damages over, time.
He observed that roads have a longer life span today because in the past major bulk cargoes, like cement, petroleum, products, rice, salt, gypsium sand, iron ore, coal, groundnut, beans, livestocks, yam, tomatoes, pepper among others were transported through the railway lines.
He called on the federal government to rehabilitate the railway system as well as the dilapidated roads, to extend the life span of roads in the country.
He maintained that rail transport system remains the cheapest and easiest mode of transportation with less accident and efficient service delivery.

By: Kinika Mpi.