Forwarder Seeks Private Sector Participation in Railway Projects

Chinazor Megbolu

A freight forwarder and former National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Chapter Chairman, Mr. Segun Musa is seeking private sector participation in railway projects in Nigeria.

He was reacting to the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi concern for non-utilisation of railways in Warri and Abuja respectively.

According to Musa; “the Minister should know better because the investment on rail within those corridors were targeted on selfish interest and not public interest and that’s why the public refused to take ownership”.

“The Minister cannot just wake up and start developing infrastructures just because the government has earmarked huge resources to him without carrying people along and at the end of the day, expressing baseless concerns over abandoned passage”.

He explained further that wastage in the present administration is monumental because ministers are nothing but contractors that do not see the need for private sector participation.

“As one of the strong voices behind the railways development in Nigeria for over 20 years I often engaged government officials to make minimal contributions and allow us as private sector to drive the system”. Unfortunately, “Minister Amaechi came and thinks he can be the driver and the passenger at the same time, “he said.

Musa also stressed that the secret behind the projects that has made him shut out critical stakeholders in the transport industry is worrisome.

“We are watching what would come out of his one-man squad abracadabra, “he said.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Amaechi on Tuesday expressed concern that available railways transportation system for movement of cargoes are not being utilised.

Speaking at a forum, ‘Nigeria 2020 Economic Outlook’ and organised by Deloitte in Lagos, said such trend of non-utilisation of rail transport for movement of goods would be a huge problem for the government in recouping what has been spent on rail projects.

Amaechi was actually referring to the Itakpe to Warri and Abuja-Kaduna rail transport which according to him were ready but not being utilised.