Railways in Nigeria discussion

[StephenHunter]

Did anyone see the Michael Palin documentary where he visited Nigeria? He actually went on one of the trains there.

One thing that makes it clear that Nigeria, with its heavily growing population, needs to improve its railway network - and this was shown on the programme - as that there's an awful lot of heavy lorries using the road network, much of which isn't paved, churning it up something rotten. Perhaps that new standard gauge line will take some lorries off there.

 

[RT4038]

Did anyone see the Michael Palin documentary where he visited Nigeria? He actually went on one of the trains there.

One thing that makes it clear that Nigeria, with its heavily growing population, needs to improve its railway network - and this was shown on the programme - as that there's an awful lot of heavy lorries using the road network, much of which isn't paved, churning it up something rotten. Perhaps that new standard gauge line will take some lorries off there.

As with most African countries, there will be high rates of unemployment and moving freight by lorry will be using far more employees than the equivalent rail conveyance, quite apart from the different ownership model. I would expect any significant transfer of existing traffic to be firmly resisted in the traditional African manner.

 

[ac6000cw]

as that there's an awful lot of heavy lorries using the road network, much of which isn't paved, churning it up something rotten.

In which case, shouldn't the Nigerian government be spending money on paving the roads?

It might not be as politically appealing but I suspect the economic benefit would be pretty high and could be started tomorrow...

 

[duesselmartin]

In the end there will be no investment in transport. Corruption in Nigeria has a level that cannot be imagined in the UK or Europe.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Nigeria is building new roads, but not necessarily in the right places.

 

[DanNCL]

In which case, shouldn't the Nigerian government be spending money on paving the roads?

Money in Nigeria very rarely goes where it’s supposed to.