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THE chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u, on Tuesday, gave reason the rail transport failed in the country, saying it was due to infidelity to the transport policy and lack of constant pattern of railway development.
He added that the rail system, which began in Lagos in 1898 by the colonial authorities, had, over the years, become inefficient and had hardly developed over the past 100 years compared to what obtains in the developed world.
Speaking during the inauguration of the committee, Alhaji Ya’U said in the country there were still only 3,505-route kilometres of railway, of which 1,788 kilometres were sharp curves.
According to him, “ the pressure Nigerian roads take from heavy vehicular movement all year round is the main trigger for the consequent dilapidation of the roads. The worsening gridlock of traffic jams on Nigerian roads simply highlights the overwhelming need to invest in more efficient means of transportation and commuters.â€Â
He explained that in the developed world, transport policy was dynamic and changes were always in response to technological trends in the transport sector, adding that the government policy in respect of rail transport innovation and development needed to be fairly consistent, but should be limited to policymaking and execution.
The Senate President, David Mark, said henceforth, any investment on rail system must be done properly for Nigerians to see and have value for the money.
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