Railways Haul First Goods in 10 Years

Finally, after over 10 years of inertia the Nigerian Railways Corporation (NRC) commenced its cargo operations with the haulage of goods from Abeokuta, Ogun State to Minna, Niger State amid fanfare.

The NRC haulage train arrive Niger state capital with 675 tonnes of cement, Friday from where they would be off loaded and transported by long haulage truck to different destinations in the Northern region.

Speaking with journalists when the goods were being offloaded from the train, the of the Minna railway station.

Abdulraouf Akinwuye, public relations officer of NRC’s Minna station said the cements were transported from the West African Portland Cemenet Company (Lafarage) factory at Ewekoro (near the Ogun State capital, Abeokuta) to Minna.

Speaking with smiles betraying his satisfaction, Akinwuye said the rebirth of cargo train service would create job opportunities for the youths in the country.

Specifically, he noted that as an immediate job creating effort, about 50 youths would be engaged in the “loading, off-loading and transportation of the goods.”

He also noted that other duties like security, clerical duties and sale of the cement would provide job opportunities for the youths.

Akinwuye further said that the company decided to use the cargo section of rail service because of its affordability since it was ready to exploit cheaper means of transportation in order to reduce the cost price of cement in the North.

He said the cement received in Minna would be distributed in Niger State and Abuja, promising that the service of the cargo train will start regularly.

Nigeria has relied principally on long haulage trucks to ferry goods and even petroleum products across the country at huge cost. Poor infrastructure and bad roads have often resulted in fatal accidents.