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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
In order to ensure that South West retains its status as the economic hub of Nigeria and West Africa, experts, commissioners for transportation and stakeholders have enjoined governors in the region to build 4,000 kilometres railway network across the six South West states in the next four years.
Speaking during a strategic meeting on South West Regional Rail Infrastructure organised by Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Wednesday, the experts said, if the governors have the political will, it is possible and also doable to build 4,000 kilometres of railway infrastructure across South West states, adding that this would boost The economy of the region and faclitate easy transportation of humans and goods.
The experts, which include Commissioner designate for Transportation in Ogun State, Gbenga Dairo; Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Transportation, Tobi Ogunleye; Director, Rail Transportation, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Olasunkanmi Okusaga; Director General, DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye; Executive Director, Centre of Sustainable Mobility and Access Development (CenMAD), Dr. Kayode Opeifa; Osun State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Hon. Sesan Oyedele, among others, said this is the time to take proactive action to develop the South West railway infrastructure instead of the previous lackadaisical approach.
The experts and commissioners gave insights on institutional issues, conceptual plans, regulatory issues, financing options, mode of procurement, operations and maintenance, political consideration, institutional arrangements and security issues.
They urged the six South West states to be proactive about the ongoing plan to develop railway infrastructure that will run across and connect the region in the next four years.
In his remarks, a former Commissioner of Transportation in Lagos State, Opeifa, said the South West states need to get serious about developing rail infrastructure if they hope to meet up with modern development.
He said the issue of developing railway infrastructure across the region is not about whether the states are ready or not, not about the issue of funding and it must not be seen or treated as a political matter and can be funded through budget.
Speaking, Director, Rail Transportation, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Okusaga, said the region needs to have clear objectives of how it wants to achieve the project and its funding. He said a clear strategy must be designed to get the plan executed as soon as possible.
In their separate contributions, Commissioner for Transportation in Osun State, Oyedele, and Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Transportation, Ogunleye, said the project is achievable if governors from the states are committed to it and take responsibility.
Oyedele and Ogunleye added that their states are ready for the project, stressing that if some states in the region could afford to construct airports, then nothing should stop the collective efforts of the governors to build railways.
Director of Operations, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Niyi Alli and Director, Centre for Multi-Modal Transport Studies, University of Lagos, Prof. Iyiola Oni, noted that in the 21st century when people are talking about blue economy, it is unimaginable that Nigeria airports and sea ports are yet to be connected with railways.
In his address, the Director General, Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission), Seye Oyeleye, said the initiative was to fastrack development in the region.
He said the commission will come up with a roadmap and timeline to ensure actualisation of the project, adding that there must be a proper transportation system across the region to enhance development.
“We have gathered here to delibrate on how to have rail for Western Nigeria, we have gathered rail expert home and abroad. Whatever resolutions we made will be taking to the respective states; all the issues and obstacles will be ironed out here. No individual state can fund rail on its own, states should pull resources together and ensure this project come to limelight.
“Private sector that will fund the project are there, but they want to see commitment and political will from the governors. We have already drafted routes, the feasibility study which is the bankable document might be the only thing the states will sponsor,” the Director General said.
Oyeleye noted that Nigeria’s population may rise with about 100 million in the next 10 years “to address the challenges of transportation this might generate, railway development infrastructure is the solution.”
The DAWN Commission DG urged stakeholders across the region and those in the diaspora to key into the plan.