Stakeholders in the transportation sector have urged the federal government to connect the Warri-Itakpe standard gauge rail line to inland ports and road networks, thereby creating a seamless multimodal transport system.

They made the call while responding to a national survey conducted on the state of railway lines in the country.

Inaugurated for commercial operation in September 2020, after more than three decades of delay, the 326km Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri standard gauge rail line currently connects Warri in Delta State to Itakpe in Kogi.

The rail line was originally designed to transport iron ore and coal from Itakpe to Ajaokuta Steel Mill and Aladja Steel Rolling Mills in Delta.

Since its inauguration, the rail line has facilitated the movement of goods and passengers between the southern and northern parts of Nigeria.

Shittu Adams, a retired director at the Nigerian Railway Corporation, said the railway line should be integrated with existing waterway and road networks along the corridor to create a seamless transport system.

Mr Adams stated that the integration of the rail line will facilitate more efficient cargo and passenger transportation, thereby enhancing trade, economic growth, and overall connectivity.

Specifically, he said Warri, where the rail terminated, is a major port city, the integration will, therefore, allow for seamless transfer of goods between the railway and the waterway transportation system in the region

Mr Adams also urged the federal government to integrate the rail line with existing road networks, particularly in Warri and other key locations, to ensure efficient transfer of goods and passengers to and from the rail line.

The director decried the high level of bureaucracy and poor governance, leading to inefficient management and a lack of transparency in the management of the rail infrastructure

He stated that the challenges contributed to the delays and underperformance of services along the corridor.

Mr Adams also faulted the outdated signaling systems, ticketing processes, and operational logistics, which, according to him, are affecting the speed and efficiency of the rail operations. He urged the federal government to provide a clear and enabling regulatory framework that will encourage private investment and ensure safety standards in the railway operations.

According to Taiye Bolaji, the director of road maintenance at the Kogi State Ministry of Works, the Warri-Itakpe rail line, like most others, connects only a few major cities and does not reach key agricultural or industrial hubs, limiting the utility of the system.

He said the Warri-Itakpe rail line has not connected the Lokoja metropolis and Obajana, where Dangote Cement Plant and Mangal Cement Plant are located.

Mr Bolaji, therefore, advocated the expansion of the rail network to connect key agricultural zones, seaports, mining areas, and industrial clusters in order to improve the movement of raw materials and finished goods.

He appealed to the federal government to expedite the extension of the railway line to Lokoja and to establish an inland port to facilitate the seamless transfer of goods and people.

Mr Bolaji said that, from Lokoja, the rail line should be extended to Abuja, thereby connecting the northern part of the country to the southern region, via rail. According to him, the integrated transportation system will boost economic activities, reduce transportation costs, and create new opportunities.

Simeon Omakoji, the former chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Kogi, stated that the major challenges facing railway transport in Nigeria are corruption and the inability to factor in regular maintenance.

Mr Omakoji, the incumbent chairman of the Kogi East Security Neighborhood Watch, advocated for an improved maintenance culture, e-ticketing, and more transparent financial management in railway operations.

He stressed the need for people to invest in the railway system, while the government develops the political will to make the system work effectively.

Another stakeholder, Ukwunetu Samuel-Ali, stated that Nigeria’s rail infrastructure used to be a symbol of prosperity and connectivity. He said that, however, the rail infrastructure had been subjected to neglect and underinvestment for many years, resulting in vandalism and encroachment on rail tracks and infrastructure.

Mr Samuel-Ali, therefore, urged the federal government to sustain the initiative to revitalise and modernise the rail network across the country.

(NAN)