Rail is a Game Changer for Nigeria’s Economic Devt, Says Hassan Bello
*Commends govt efforts to revitalize rail infrastructure
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello has described rail transport as very imperative to Nigeria’s economic development.
According to Bello the rail transport has become a game changer for Nigeria’s economy.
Bello who spoke during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project by the Ministers of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was full of commendation to the federal government for doing everything to revitalize the rail infrastructure.
He added that the rail system plays a major role in moving the nation’s economy forward.
According to him, “I am very impressed with the good rail development now in the country. The rail is key to the nation’s economic development and the future of this country.
“We have seen, in spite of COVID -19 interruptions, rail track now laid up to Ibadan, we have seen the coaches and locomotives and the level of works done at the various train stations.
“So, rail is a game changer for Nigeria’s development. Rail is a key transport infrastructure to move the economy forward.
” If you have modern transport infrastructure, you have modern economy, but if you have sluggish transport infrastructure, you have sluggish economy”.
He described the rail project as a gradual process, adding that when completed and in use, there will be efforts to reach areas not covered.
He also said he was more interested in the movement of cargoes, adding that moving as much as 300,000 metric tons of cargoes between Lagos and Kano will change the configuration of Nigeria’s transportation system.
He said, “If the rail is there, we can move 300,000 metric tons of cargoes between Lagos and Kano and when we do that, it will change the configuration of Nigeria’s transportation system.
“The cost of transporting cargoes will come down because we will be giving truckers a run for their money in competition. Rail moves mass volume of cargoes and that means convenience.
“We need to export, we cannot rely on oil, it is unpredictable and uncertain. On the wish to divert the source of revenue for Nigeria, there is no other place than export. We have the potential to export so many goods.
“If we use the dry ports as centres for exportation, we have the rail running in full capacity on schedule time, we are going to be an exporter of so many things and that is the future that the country should look forward to.”
Bello who said rail integrates people of diverse culture and very important, however said government alone cannot do it.
He said there was the need for private sector participation which was the reason for the review of the Nigerian Railway Act of 1955.
The federal government had extended the rail project to the Apapa port to improve on the movement of cargoes.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello has described rail transport as very imperative to Nigeria’s economic development.
According to Bello the rail transport has become a game changer for Nigeria’s economy.
Bello who spoke during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project by the Ministers of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was full of commendation to the federal government for doing everything to revitalize the rail infrastructure.
He added that the rail system plays a major role in moving the nation’s economy forward.
According to him, “I am very impressed with the good rail development now in the country. The rail is key to the nation’s economic development and the future of this country.
“We have seen, in spite of COVID -19 interruptions, rail track now laid up to Ibadan, we have seen the coaches and locomotives and the level of works done at the various train stations.
“So, rail is a game changer for Nigeria’s development. Rail is a key transport infrastructure to move the economy forward.
” If you have modern transport infrastructure, you have modern economy, but if you have sluggish transport infrastructure, you have sluggish economy”.
He described the rail project as a gradual process, adding that when completed and in use, there will be efforts to reach areas not covered.
He also said he was more interested in the movement of cargoes, adding that moving as much as 300,000 metric tons of cargoes between Lagos and Kano will change the configuration of Nigeria’s transportation system.
He said, “If the rail is there, we can move 300,000 metric tons of cargoes between Lagos and Kano and when we do that, it will change the configuration of Nigeria’s transportation system.
“The cost of transporting cargoes will come down because we will be giving truckers a run for their money in competition. Rail moves mass volume of cargoes and that means convenience.
“We need to export, we cannot rely on oil, it is unpredictable and uncertain. On the wish to divert the source of revenue for Nigeria, there is no other place than export. We have the potential to export so many goods.
“If we use the dry ports as centres for exportation, we have the rail running in full capacity on schedule time, we are going to be an exporter of so many things and that is the future that the country should look forward to.”
Bello who said rail integrates people of diverse culture and very important, however said government alone cannot do it.
He said there was the need for private sector participation which was the reason for the review of the Nigerian Railway Act of 1955.
The federal government had extended the rail project to the Apapa port to improve on the movement of cargoes.
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