ON AMAECHI ‘BEGGING’ NIGER REPUBLIC TO ALLOW NIGERIA CONSTRUCT FREE RAILWAY TO LINK THEM AND NIGERIA – WHAT HAPPENED TO FIRST ADDRESSING THE RAILWAYS/TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF NIGERIA?
April 1, 2021 | News
When I first saw reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said he personally traveled to the Niger Republic to beg the country to allow the Federal Government of Nigeria to construct the $1.95bn railway from Kano State into Maradi in the Niger Republic, I could not help but wonder what exactly is the rationale behind this project,
ON AMAECHI ‘BEGGING’ NIGER REPUBLIC TO ALLOW NIGERIA CONSTRUCT FREE RAILWAY TO LINK THEM AND NIGERIA – WHAT HAPPENED TO FIRST ADDRESSING THE RAILWAYS/TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF NIGERIA?
When I first saw reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said he personally traveled to the Niger Republic to beg the country to allow the Federal Government of Nigeria to construct the $1.95bn railway from Kano State into Maradi in the Niger Republic, I could not help but wonder what exactly is the rationale behind this project, to the extent that they begged to have it constructed? But more importantly, of what economic benefits does this portend to Nigeria, as it relates to the Niger Republic? Of what economic value is this to Nigeria, other than opening a channel for the easy migration of Fulanis and their killer herdsmen/armed bandits into Nigeria?
Oftentimes, I really do not understand the rationale behind most of the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, in their style of governance as custodians of the nation’s resources. It makes one wonder if they are acting in the interest of the Nigerian people or they are more interested in fostering their own self-centered interests, which are usually to the detriment of the masses. That is how the majority of the Nigerian people have always seen/viewed these new-found love-links being established by the Nigerian Government under President Buhari and the country’s neighbours – Niger Republic.
How low can Amaechi and Buhari go? Traveled to beg the Niger Republic, which country has a bigger market between Nigeria and the Niger Republic? It is just like the US begging Mexico for access. This is utter madness, coming from the Nigerian government. Can they explain the significance of this total nonsense and why it's a priority when the rest of Nigeria is yet to be connected with the same rail? Some have argued that the struggle in this area is to remain relevant in Africa. And that Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries, and they are susceptible to France's influence, as the French's influence is a threat. Yet still, how does the construction of the said railway line decimate, remove or reduce the stated influence of France on their former colonies?
The excuse given by Amaechi for the construction of the said railway, which is expected to run from Kano to Dutse- Katsina through Jibia and will end at Maradi Niger Republic, was that the Niger Republic was a landlocked country and had to rely on entrepot trade, which means it has to export and import through intermediary countries. And due to insecurity and poor road infrastructure as well as extortion by security agents/Customs/Immigration Officials and Communities, the Niger Republic and Chad now preferred exporting and importing their goods through Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Togo. Amaechi argued that the new rail would help Nigeria to compete and this would expand the economy.
However, with all the points raised in the argument put forward by Amaechi, as the reason and rationale behind having to beg the Niger Republic to let them construct the said railway line, one would have expected this government to focus on addressing all the issues mentioned that are preventing the Niger Republic from using the Nigerian channel for their imports and exports. If the issues of poor road infrastructure, extortions by stated Security agents and others are part of the problem, why can’t the Minister of Transport and the Buhari-led Federal Government focus on addressing these man-made-problems, instead of going all out to construct a railway line that would cost a whopping $1.95billion? Funds that could be used even to address the poor road infrastructure linking Nigeria and Niger Republic in the first place.
With this revelation by Amaechi, expressing the extent they went to get this railway line project to Niger Republic to take off, it has indeed become obvious to the world that the managers of our country have ulterior and sinister motives: to ruin this country and liquidate the country’s future. Constructing rail lines to Kano, Katsina, and Dutse is understandable; but why extend it to the Niger Republic? What even more disturbing is the fact that the said funds are borrowed. Why should we borrow from the IMF, World Bank, and China to build a rail line to the Niger Republic? Is there something this government is not telling us? How could the Federal Government come up with such an idea in the first place, in a country where potable water has become a luxury; right to electricity is regarded as a taboo for an average citizen, roads have become death traps and our health facilities lack basic drugs and facilities? That sum – $1.96bn when exchanged at the rate of N380-N450 per dollar is more than N950bn. This can do a lot in the economy.
Let us also reiterate the fact that, according to a report from the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total debt rose to $79.5 billion (N28.63 trillion as of the first quarter of 2020). Debt servicing gulps trillions of naira yearly. How on earth will the said railway line from the Niger Republic yield enough revenue that would help to offset Nigeria’s debts?
More so, considering the security situation in the country, particularly regarding the Boko Haram insurgency and the criminal activities of supposed Fulani Herdsmen/bandits, which many believed are perpetuated with the help of persons from neighboring countries like the Niger Republic who come into the country through our porous borders, then we would realize how dangerous and unreasonable the above Federal Government rail line project to the Niger Republic would be if implemented. With the said approval of the rail line from Nigeria to the Niger Republic, it means the Federal Government has willingly opened the gates and has given access to terrorists to find their way into Nigeria without any restrictions.
It is appalling that when other nations are severing unnecessary links with their neighbours and tightening their borderlines against any penetration of terrorists that are looking for safe heaven grounds to perpetuate their evil acts, the Nigerian Government under President Buhari is busy opening its borders and creating transportation means to bring these terrorists in.
Nigeria is greatly deficient when it comes to the availability of basic infrastructure like transportation means, a good network of roads, electricity supply, etc. These are areas the Federal Government needs to focus its attention on in appropriating public funds, especially funds that are borrowed. Rather than this waste of a rail line project to link the Niger Republic. Nigeria needs a modernized rail network system as we have in Europe and North America. It is shameful that the country is still stuck to the selfish rail network pattern that the British colonialists created for their economic and political domination interests before they left in 1960.
As noted in an editorial piece in one of the dailies, the benefits of an extended and modernized railway lines cannot be over-emphasized. Apart from the capacity to move millions of people and tones of goods across geographical space and time, an efficient railway system will save the nation’s roads from quick wear and tear. Such a well-established rail system will create jobs for a multitude and have a multiplier effect that can transform the economy. No modern society with Nigeria’s kind of huge population should neglect rail transport. A modernized rail system will also reduce the number of cars on the roads and make it possible for citizens to shuttle from suburbs to cities daily or weekly.
It is imperative to note that President Buhari swore to an oath to be loyal to Nigeria, not a section of Nigeria. On this and in many other matters, most of his recent actions tend to suggest parochialism and a penchant for ethnic chauvinism. It is like having a President of Northern Nigeria, who is also a de facto President of Niger Republic.
Zik Gbemre.
April 1, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
When I first saw reports that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said he personally traveled to the Niger Republic to beg the country to allow the Federal Government of Nigeria to construct the $1.95bn railway from Kano State into Maradi in the Niger Republic, I could not help but wonder what exactly is the rationale behind this project, to the extent that they begged to have it constructed? But more importantly, of what economic benefits does this portend to Nigeria, as it relates to the Niger Republic? Of what economic value is this to Nigeria, other than opening a channel for the easy migration of Fulanis and their killer herdsmen/armed bandits into Nigeria?
Oftentimes, I really do not understand the rationale behind most of the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, in their style of governance as custodians of the nation’s resources. It makes one wonder if they are acting in the interest of the Nigerian people or they are more interested in fostering their own self-centered interests, which are usually to the detriment of the masses. That is how the majority of the Nigerian people have always seen/viewed these new-found love-links being established by the Nigerian Government under President Buhari and the country’s neighbours – Niger Republic.
How low can Amaechi and Buhari go? Traveled to beg the Niger Republic, which country has a bigger market between Nigeria and the Niger Republic? It is just like the US begging Mexico for access. This is utter madness, coming from the Nigerian government. Can they explain the significance of this total nonsense and why it's a priority when the rest of Nigeria is yet to be connected with the same rail? Some have argued that the struggle in this area is to remain relevant in Africa. And that Nigeria is surrounded by Francophone countries, and they are susceptible to France's influence, as the French's influence is a threat. Yet still, how does the construction of the said railway line decimate, remove or reduce the stated influence of France on their former colonies?
The excuse given by Amaechi for the construction of the said railway, which is expected to run from Kano to Dutse- Katsina through Jibia and will end at Maradi Niger Republic, was that the Niger Republic was a landlocked country and had to rely on entrepot trade, which means it has to export and import through intermediary countries. And due to insecurity and poor road infrastructure as well as extortion by security agents/Customs/Immigration Officials and Communities, the Niger Republic and Chad now preferred exporting and importing their goods through Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Togo. Amaechi argued that the new rail would help Nigeria to compete and this would expand the economy.
However, with all the points raised in the argument put forward by Amaechi, as the reason and rationale behind having to beg the Niger Republic to let them construct the said railway line, one would have expected this government to focus on addressing all the issues mentioned that are preventing the Niger Republic from using the Nigerian channel for their imports and exports. If the issues of poor road infrastructure, extortions by stated Security agents and others are part of the problem, why can’t the Minister of Transport and the Buhari-led Federal Government focus on addressing these man-made-problems, instead of going all out to construct a railway line that would cost a whopping $1.95billion? Funds that could be used even to address the poor road infrastructure linking Nigeria and Niger Republic in the first place.
With this revelation by Amaechi, expressing the extent they went to get this railway line project to Niger Republic to take off, it has indeed become obvious to the world that the managers of our country have ulterior and sinister motives: to ruin this country and liquidate the country’s future. Constructing rail lines to Kano, Katsina, and Dutse is understandable; but why extend it to the Niger Republic? What even more disturbing is the fact that the said funds are borrowed. Why should we borrow from the IMF, World Bank, and China to build a rail line to the Niger Republic? Is there something this government is not telling us? How could the Federal Government come up with such an idea in the first place, in a country where potable water has become a luxury; right to electricity is regarded as a taboo for an average citizen, roads have become death traps and our health facilities lack basic drugs and facilities? That sum – $1.96bn when exchanged at the rate of N380-N450 per dollar is more than N950bn. This can do a lot in the economy.
Let us also reiterate the fact that, according to a report from the Debt Management Office, Nigeria’s total debt rose to $79.5 billion (N28.63 trillion as of the first quarter of 2020). Debt servicing gulps trillions of naira yearly. How on earth will the said railway line from the Niger Republic yield enough revenue that would help to offset Nigeria’s debts?
More so, considering the security situation in the country, particularly regarding the Boko Haram insurgency and the criminal activities of supposed Fulani Herdsmen/bandits, which many believed are perpetuated with the help of persons from neighboring countries like the Niger Republic who come into the country through our porous borders, then we would realize how dangerous and unreasonable the above Federal Government rail line project to the Niger Republic would be if implemented. With the said approval of the rail line from Nigeria to the Niger Republic, it means the Federal Government has willingly opened the gates and has given access to terrorists to find their way into Nigeria without any restrictions.
It is appalling that when other nations are severing unnecessary links with their neighbours and tightening their borderlines against any penetration of terrorists that are looking for safe heaven grounds to perpetuate their evil acts, the Nigerian Government under President Buhari is busy opening its borders and creating transportation means to bring these terrorists in.
Nigeria is greatly deficient when it comes to the availability of basic infrastructure like transportation means, a good network of roads, electricity supply, etc. These are areas the Federal Government needs to focus its attention on in appropriating public funds, especially funds that are borrowed. Rather than this waste of a rail line project to link the Niger Republic. Nigeria needs a modernized rail network system as we have in Europe and North America. It is shameful that the country is still stuck to the selfish rail network pattern that the British colonialists created for their economic and political domination interests before they left in 1960.
As noted in an editorial piece in one of the dailies, the benefits of an extended and modernized railway lines cannot be over-emphasized. Apart from the capacity to move millions of people and tones of goods across geographical space and time, an efficient railway system will save the nation’s roads from quick wear and tear. Such a well-established rail system will create jobs for a multitude and have a multiplier effect that can transform the economy. No modern society with Nigeria’s kind of huge population should neglect rail transport. A modernized rail system will also reduce the number of cars on the roads and make it possible for citizens to shuttle from suburbs to cities daily or weekly.
It is imperative to note that President Buhari swore to an oath to be loyal to Nigeria, not a section of Nigeria. On this and in many other matters, most of his recent actions tend to suggest parochialism and a penchant for ethnic chauvinism. It is like having a President of Northern Nigeria, who is also a de facto President of Niger Republic.
Zik Gbemre.
April 1, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes