Standard gauge from Lagos

[John Ashworth]

STANDARD GAUGE FROM LAGOS

On October 23, 2012 Railways Africa

In 2008, the Obasanjo government in Nigeria signed a $US8.3 billion deal with Chinese contractors in terms of which new double-track, 1,435mm gauge lines were to be constructed along various routes. The successor Yar’Adua government halted the work, citing irregularities in the sourcing of funding. However, had Nigeria not proceeded with the project eventually, it would have exposed itself to heavy claims – as much as a billion US dollars according to reports. To obviate this, the present government is reviving the contract in stages, the first covering the section of line from Idu to Kaduna. This is to be followed by construction between Lagos and Ibadan, while phase 3 will be concerned with Ibadan-Ilorin.

ROLLING STOCK FOR NIGERIAN STANDARD GAUGE

On October 23, 2012 Railways Africa

Bethlehem Rail Infrastructure Limited (London) managing director Rowland Ataguba chairs the rail work group of the Infrastructure Policy Commission of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and is principal consultant of the CANAC-PSO Alliance.

In a recent letter to the Nigerian press, he poses pertinent questions about railway projects in the country. In particular, he asks when rolling stock is to be acquired for the standard gauge line currently being built south of Kaduna, and whether it is intended that the state-owned Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) or a private contractor is going to run the line. Decisions on these points need to be made immediately, he emphasises, otherwise construction will be completed with nothing to run on the railway and nobody to operate it. The existing 1,067mm gauge locomotives and rolling stock (currently being augmented) will not be usable on 1,435mm gauge, Ataguba points out.