Absence of human, goods traffic may rubbish Warri-Itakpe Rail Corridor—survey
Many Nigerians have continued to query the rationale considered by the federal government in rushing the delivery of Warri-Itakpe rail corridor when there has not been any known traffic demand on the stretch.
The query became pertinent considering silence and inactivity so far demonstrated by the government in reviving all the iron and steel complexes which were originally considered for the development of the rail scheme in the first instance.
Checks along the stretch showed that all the iron and steel companies along the rail line are moribund and not producing so as to be in dire need of rail for moving products to seaport.
Additional discoveries also revealed that from Warri to Itakpe, there has been no known human traffic that warrants the volume of investments in rail along the corridor that other axis of high traffic calls.
In a recent interview, Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Fidet Okhiria recalled that “It’s about 320km, about 12 stations and we have to engage people that will maintain the tracks, people that will work in the stations and sell tickets.
“Also, technicians that will examine the train; So, we are going to engage close to over 1000 to maintain about 320km track, both junior and senior,” NRC boss averred.
Okhiria explained that the 12 stations for the train service are still under construction, adding that temporary stations would be used pending completion and assured that the stations would be completed by the first quarter of 2019.
