9th August, 2014
The Nigeria Railway corporation moved 280,549 tonnes of cargo between 2012 and 2013, according to a report released by the Ministry of Transport.
The report, which focused on the ministry’s activities in 2012 and 2013, was made available to NAN by the Nebolisa Emodi, the Permanent Secretary, in Abuja on Friday.
The report stated that in 2012, 182,465 tonnes of cargo were conveyed by rail while in 2013, 98,084 tonnes of cargo were transported.
According to the report, 4,155,988 passengers were transported by rail in 2012 and 4,328,789 passengers in 2013.
It also stated that the ministry rehabilitated 1,494 kms of narrow gauge in 2012 while 1,931 kms were rehabilitated in 2013.
Furthermore, 518.7 kms of standard gauge were constructed in 2012 while 406 km of standard gauge were constructed in 2013, the report said.
“The volume of cargoes throughput stood at 77 million tonnes in 2012 and 77 million tonnes in 2013 while 80 million tonnes were being targeted in 2014.
“Thirty-four wrecks and derelicts were removed in 2012; six were removed in 2013 while 30 are targeted to be removed in 2014.”
On the volume of cargo moved through the inland waterways, it said that 3.4 million tonnes were conveyed in 2012, six million tonnes in 2013 while six million tonnes were targeted in 2014.
It also said that 1,308,864 passengers used the service in 2012, 3,350,000 passengers in 2013 while 3, 600,000 passengers were targeted in 2014.
It said that the number of boats, ferries, barges and vessels that navigated the waterways increased from 35,136 in 2012 to 39,000 in 2013.
The report explained that the amount of cargo conveyed by rail was as a result of a drop in haulage due to the non-completion of the rehabilitation works on haulage carriages.
According to the report, track rehabilitation work was carried out on Akere Bridge in Niger state in the Western Line during the period under review.
It stressed that the ministry’s focus was on providing safe, secure and adequate inter-modal transport system, to facilitate Nigeria’s socio-economic development and ensure the welfare of members of the public.