Experts solicit local participation in planned $15 bn rail projects

Experts yesterday said the about $15 billion railway projects, embarked upon by the Federal Government and some States Government could only become sustainable if Nigerians are allowed to properly participate in the project execution to develop man power capacity, local content and avoid the pitfalls of the system handed over by the colonial master.

Speaking yesterday in Lagos at a rail conference organised to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the sector, the experts lamented that Nigerians were missing out in the huge opportunities in the sector.

This is coming as the Governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun unveils the Ogun Light Rail Project to speed up its current $20 billion Gross Domestic Product to $100 billion in a space of 10 years.

Addressing the theme of the conference, “Nigeria Railway Industry Moving from the 19th to 21th Century: Challenges and Opportunities”, Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, said the current administration would follow the vision of the 25 years railway master plan to overhaul the system.

   Amaechi said the current transition going on in the sector would open up rail transportation in the country and create a level playing ground for investors, adding that government has approved a programme that would allow Nigerians to participate in the development and create knowledge sharing and apprenticeship platform to tackle necessary challenges.

   But Abiodun Otunola, Managing Director, Planet Project insisted that though the sector is worth over $100 billion and could drastically solve the unemployment challenge in the country, Nigerians are not being carried along to take advantage the sector presents.

   Otunola said: “Everybody talks about power but the poor transportation account 30 per cent increase in cost of goods.”

   According to Amosun, one of the strategic way the state has identified to grow its GDP to $100 billion is through the provision of an inter-city rail network.

   “The rail network, which is expected to be about 332km will connect Agbara to Berger, Ogere to Sagamu, Berger and Ojota, another   face will connect Abeokuta to Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode, Ijoko will also be connected to Ifo and Abeokuta and another line from Ijoko to Sagamu down to Ijebu-ode.

    I am happy that everybody has realised that there is only one way to go. Look at the population of Nigeria but there are only just about 40, 000 kilometer of railway. We are happy that the federal government has started but this is not the first time we see initiates like this, we only pray that they follow,” he said.

Ifeoma Okeke