thelastPope:

You are getting things mixed up. Rail tracks takes years to build not months. America has been developing their rail system for like centuries. What the FG is doing is simple. short term and long term strategy. The short term strategy is clearly to get the tracks already on the ground working again. Then add some coaches to make is better. The long term is to build new standard tracks. It is a simple strategy and is the right thing to do. It will make no sense to abandon the current tracks and start to build new tracks that will take years to build. Lagos-Kano standard gauge project is ongoing with its first phase, Lagos Ibadan standard gauge, already in progress. The feasibility studies for five new electric tracks has started and is expected to be concluded in July. Then work will start. Dont forget these projects cost a lot of money and it isnt easy to source funds for it. It is not beans

In 2007, the World Bank estimated that fixing the existing narrow-gauge lines could see rail freight jump to 4.6 million tons within four years and passenger numbers to 10 million

manny4life: Some people argue for the sake of arguing, like seriously, a govt who recently increased her budget size from $25billion to $31billion this year is to undertake billion of $$$ in debt to finance a rail system that we aren't sure will pay itself? Smh once again, if people understand that rail doesn't come cheap and mos government subsidize their railways, while some don't ever make profits so what's the use of undertaking debts that won't yield financial benefits?

Now before some make the arguments of "economic benefit", while this is very important, we can only undertake something that isn't a liability to our economy. Here is what the WBG said in 2007



So imagine where if this was possible in 07, by now, GEJ and his crew would be upgrading the entire system, YET, even at that, this rail moves tens of thousands of people and several tons of goods daily, so what's the fuss?

manny4life: Some people argue for the sake of arguing, like seriously, a govt who recently increased her budget size from $25billion to $31billion this year is to undertake billion of $$$ in debt to finance a rail system that we aren't sure will pay itself? Smh once again, if people understand that rail doesn't come cheap and mos government subsidize their railways, while some don't ever make profits so what's the use of undertaking debts that won't yield financial benefits?

Now before some make the arguments of "economic benefit", while this is very important, we can only undertake something that isn't a liability to our economy. Here is what the WBG said in 2007



So imagine where if this was possible in 07, by now, GEJ and his crew would be upgrading the entire system, YET, even at that, this rail moves tens of thousands of people and several tons of goods daily, so what's the fuss?

Yet in an age of high-speed rail, where travel at more than 124 mph is normal, the train to Kano chugs along at 31 mph. That this is celebrated as progress in Nigeria illustrates not only the state of the railways but also the difficulty of effecting real reform in the opaque, state-run sectors of the economy.

take dat: We are surely getting there! Apart from government completing the on-going rail projects, there is the need to address the lack of maintenance on existing infrastructure and rolling stock, and also improving on service delivery! We will get there!

thelastPope:

Please help me remind him that GEJ is doing this in the midst of continuous Boko Haram bombing and political chaos all around.

thelastPope:

This is from a google so you can do it yourself:

According to the Amtrak website, they have a train from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas (Train 422, Texas Eagle). The train leaves at 2:30pm local time from Los Angeles, and Arrives in Austin, at 9:31am CT in Ausitn, Texas, 2 days later. ChaCha!

http://www.chacha.com/question/how-long-would-it-take-to-travel-in-train-from-california-to-texas

Venchy:

Getting where and at what time, after Hundred years the Colonial Masters have laid the foundation?

You might not realize where a country like Nigeria should in this day and age, I know where we are suppose to be, the close to European countries or South Africa, where Nation Building is their number one Priority rather than pussyfooting around and Celebrating mediocrity.

Nigerian Leaders lack focus and Good quality of life for their people but cares about squandering lots of opportunity.

Lack of Electricity, i just can't understand what's going on in our leaders mind, share cruelty and absolute madness.

It's a shame that lots of Nigerians do not know what they deserve, as well as good quality of life, that's the reason why little thing looks like a big deal in their eyes.

manny4life: Some people argue for the sake of arguing, like seriously, a govt who recently increased her budget size from $25billion to $31billion this year is to undertake billion of $$$ in debt to finance a rail system that we aren't sure will pay itself? Smh once again, if people understand that rail doesn't come cheap and mos government subsidize their railways, while some don't ever make profits so what's the use of undertaking debts that won't yield financial benefits?

Now before some make the arguments of "economic benefit", while this is very important, we can only undertake something that isn't a liability to our economy. Here is what the WBG said in 2007



So imagine where if this was possible in 07, by now, GEJ and his crew would be upgrading the entire system, YET, even at that, this rail moves tens of thousands of people and several tons of goods daily, so what's the fuss?

ayox2003: Funny how folks are quick to post Western reports and prints when they report about the development going on in the country but get bashed when they report on the massive corruption in this administration. Very comical!

For the records, GEJ will not be forgotten for these two achievements,
1) Electoral reforms
2) Transportation (rail and roads).
3) And electricity too (if he can finish it)

But if corruption still lurks in his loins like we have it now, it won't take a year before these good achievements get drained to the dregs.


Frawzey.

occam:

Such comparison highlights the disconnect between our leaders and people; not about GEJ only. Fixing the rail system has been a mantra repeated In the past and nothing meaningful has been done

Fixing the trains on one route without new tracks will not cut it. A specific mandate must guide investment decisions. For instance reducing the travel time from Lagos to Kano must be the goal. And based on this goal govt can set aside budget to achieve it. Given the potential to increase ridership and economic activity, this is a worthwhile investment

Piecemeal investments like this will not work and transform nothing

Omo_Tier1: This is like a man who has money to build a modern concrete house yet is celebrating living in a mud house as a life achievement How come when they want to do anything for themselves, they go for the world's best, yet when it's time to do anything for the Nigerian masses, they put up a mediocre!

Nigerians deserve a modern and functional railway services and what this government is giving us is no where near good enough! We have the money and men to have a modern and effective rail service all across the country, sadly we lack a leader who can think into the future.

Lets stop celebrating mediocrity and demand for the world's best. We have the money, people and resources to have them in Nigeria. Yes, He may have tried in reviving Lagos-Kano rails, but lets us as a people collectively tell Him, GEJ that we are not celebrating because the allege investment does not commensurate with what is on ground hence we DEMAND a Nigeria standard railway services.

Let anyone not be deceived, if the Lagos-Kano railway service was anything to rejoice about, people will not have been sleeping in MMIA over the mad Easter rush as many would have opted to use the rail service.

GEJ has made a start, but it is not good enough and He needs to up the game and deliver big time. This is about Improving Nigerian lives and no politics should come into play in doing so.

DaLover:
Exactly how much do u think we have? Have u ever sat down to do a rough estimate of what comes in to government coffers vs what projects need money?
If you have lets see ur calculations to show we have so much money to deliver the projects of ur dreams, if you do not come of with proves that government has the excess money u r claiming, stop yapping

kingoflag:

As President, When you dont have money, you set up projects that'll bring in the much needed cash, not steal what your predecessor left behind ($65Billion) or start surrounding yourself with thieves, eating $30,000/day meals while 85%+ of the population starve, or wasting money on white-elephant projects like giving your wife N4billion Naira to play with. What has GEJ done to ensure Nigeria earns more money and that whatever comes into government coffers is managed prudently and not stolen away?

P.S: By the way its "Proofs" not "proves", but you wouldnt know that because your govt refused to invest majorly in education.

DaLover:
Exactly how much do u think we have? Have u ever sat down to do a rough estimate of what comes in to government coffers vs what projects need money?
If you have lets see ur calculations to show we have so much money to deliver the projects of ur dreams, if you do not come of with proves that government has the excess money u r claiming, stop yapping

all4naija: The truth is that Nigeria has the money. The NASS and co are embezzling it to the detriment of the nation and people. It is sad somebody like you, as a citizen is claiming there is no money fix modern railway line for the country. Indeed, it is surprising the amount that has been put into the project without good work coming out of it. That same amount can fix a better modern railway system in developed countries.

I keep laughing at some Nigeria who are just hell bent on refusing to accept to know their rights. That is the most painful aspect of it all. 16 billion dollars spent of power in the past without nothing to show for it(you would say there is no money in the country),etc. Try to google on how much developed countries spent on modern projects, it just as per with the one we spend on shiits in the country. We aren't getting any good returns from all these shity projects and that is a sad thing.

all4naija: The truth is that it is not only Nigeria railway system is operated. Why is it that Nigerian situation is always different when even smaller nations can effectively manage a modern railway system yet Nigeria can't? I get infuriated when people give excuses for our inability to make things work. Sometimes our attempt yield nothing that provide us with debt without seeing much of what the money and the debt own are of use for. It is better we start taking a stride than keep banking on petty projects and less accomplishing works that cannot sustain the population. In this present dispensation there is need to start thinking big.

Many nations are doing it. Why can't we? The fuss is that it could have been better!

Video of Nigerian railway below:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jivXfkh1skc

manny4life:

Bros, you're making an entire different argument from my POV, building an infrastructure is already a major hurdle, managing it for efficiency is another. While I agree with you that maintenance is a serious menace in Nigeria, nonetheless, I will STOP short of calling your "we have to think big" an illusion. There's nothing wrong in thinking big, neither is there's anything wrong in holding the government accountable, nor is it wrong to expect more, however, dreams only become reality when you put it to work. Right now, Nigeria LACKS the financial and technical resources to construct railways as the magnitude "thinking big", like I stated, Nigerian Budget is a meager $31billion with about 21% of it financed through debt.

Secondly, Nigeria using about $153million to resuscitate it's railways extending up to 700miles of rail is not surprising, in fact, I call it judicious use. That's an average of $255,000 per mile including the refurbished locos they brought in as well as other expense factored in. So if you honestly believe that money do grow on trees, sorry bro, it does not.

Like I said, when the groundwork is laid, with time, we'll get there. Billions of $$$ railway though needed but not required and need I say it isn't affordable using our current financial and economic outlook. So please, let's shelve this idea and improve on what we got, with time, we'll get there.

absa$:
Nigeria has beyound $40 billion in its foreign reserve. $9 billion in excess crude acct.More than #3 trillion generated annually by FIRS and other Govt agencies. Cash investment frm nigerians abroad. We also ve access to foreign loans from global banks as was done in d aviation sector. Repatriation of all stolen monies oversea et al . what this country requries is an aggressive leader, a patriot , zero tolerence for corruption. All projects in my opinion are achivealable within a relatively short distance. I so submit

DaLover:

Short distance indeed, like 2 years abi, I honestly think that is delusional, these monies u mention are drops of water in the sea compared to the projects we are carrying.
Ok, ur 3 trillion Naira internal revenue is just $20million dollars...better to work in dollars so that people are not deceived by huge figures...
From the annual revenues of $31billion about 60-70% goes into recurrent expenditure.....don't forget hat in the last few years salaries of everybody were increased, this leaves about $10billion or so for capital expenditure,
Capital expenditure like east west road about $4b
Lagos Ibadan road about $1b
Lagos Kano rail line about $8b
I would assume that ph maidugri line would also be about $8b
Then lagos calabar line , maybe about $8b
Abuja kaduna line, lets assume $2b..

These is just 7 projects planned that would take about $30b, the FG has numerous other roads to build, schools to build, sea ports ongoing, rails lines not mentioned, dams, airports, power plants, and so on and so fort,

My figures might not be exactly spot on right, but it gives you the ideas that gej is trying with all he has achieved in just 2 years....the idea of unlimited source of FG funds needs to be crushed once and for all

DaLover:
And I ask again,exactly how much does nigeria earn, how much is the project cost? How much do similar projects cost in other countries? If u do not know the answers to these questions, u simply ask, not to run ur mouth...it's embarrassing