Considering the vast sums of money, amounting to billions of dollars, pumped into Nigeria’s rail system by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerians expected the rail system to be fully operational by now. They hoped it would provide an alternative means of transportation, allowing people to travel freely across the country without much hassle.
Rail transport is a major system of transportation across major cities of the world because of its capacity to move large numbers of people from one location to another within a few hours. It is, therefore, deeply saddening that while certain regions of Nigeria were excluded from the rail projects initiated under Buhari’s administration, places like Maradi in Niger Republic were connected under the flimsy claims that the former president had relatives there.
Currently, places like Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, Ibadan, and a few other states experience only sporadic rail services, which are far from regular. This situation was worsened by the attacks and killings of rail passengers on the Abuja-Kaduna routes a few years ago by Boko Haram terrorists. It is not surprising that progress on the rail system remains stalled. The Nigerian approach often takes the form of fire-brigade response—initiatives are implemented to satisfy political interests in specific areas, only for attention to shift elsewhere once those interests are met.
As a result, the public, accustomed to neglect, moves on with their lives, amid dissatisfaction. That said, if there was ever a time Nigerians urgently needed a functional rail system, it is now. It is insufficient to focus only on Lagos and a few other urban areas; the development of a nation cannot be concentrated in a single region, as is often the case in Nigeria today. Nigerians are yet to see the creation of wealth promised by the current administration. Instead, they are repeatedly told to remain hopeful. Public transportation, when accessible, has become a luxury.
The costs of moving from one point to another continue to rise daily, making it increasingly unaffordable, with many trekking long distances to cope. Families that could afford to put food on the table are being celebrated, especially in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, where people have learned to ration their outings, owing to high fuel and diesel costs. At a time like this, rail transportation should be prioritised to ensure the survival of the populace.
A nation’s economy thrives when its working population is mobile. It is critical for the government to acknowledge that the country is at an economic standstill. Without addressing the high cost of transportation across all sectors—aviation, road, rail, and sea—Nigeria will continue to suffer stagnation.
Rather than waiting for the completion of the coastal highway project from Calabar to Sokoto, efforts should be focused on completing or reviving abandoned rail projects, which have been stalled for reasons of insecurity and lack of funds. Borrowing money for infrastructure development without evidence of progress on the ground is regrettable, and only show the high level of mismanagement of public funds.
Nigeria cannot prosper unless every region thrives economically. Areas excluded from past rail projects must be considered under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s infrastructural development plan.
The recent change of leadership at the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) must bring about genuine transformation, ensuring that no zone is left out of the rail development agenda. Only by addressing these gaps can Nigeria solve its persistent transport challenges.
…Agberos and their operations on Lagos roads
On a related development, it is shameful that Agberos (touts) have completely taken over the management of road transportation in Lagos state. This is unacceptable, particularly in times of economic hardship.
The danfo drivers, who are the primary movers of goods and passengers in the state appear helpless because the Agberos reportedly operate under the protection of influential individuals. The Agberos’ modus operandi and excesses on Nigerian roads are a ticking time bomb. The authorities must wake up and act decisively before the situation escalates further.
