#GEJAchievements in Transport: Reviving the Railway
Before President Jonathan’s administration, the Nigerian Railways Corporation was moribund, and transportation of goods and people was forced onto the roads network. This contributed to the degradation of the road networks increasing the maintenance burden on government and imposing extra costs and delays on other roads users.

As part of the 25-year strategic vision to revive and modernise the Nigerian Railway System, the President Jonathan’s Administration has adopted a systematic dual approach which will see the rehabilitation of the entire existing narrow gauged lines while simultaneously developing standard gauge lines.

To achieve this, a number of important projects have been undertaken over the last four years to revive and develop railways within and leading to the North West region. In railways the journey towards full recovery has only just begun but is already delivering important benefits. Completion of the President Jonathan’s Administration vision for the railways will generate huge benefits for the nation and will be particularly important to the economic development regions like the North West need low cost efficient transportation that links to the ports to facilitate their economic growth.

Did you know?
The railways now move over 3,450 passengers three times a week between Minna and Kaduna since regular operations re-commenced in and out of the North West zone. Under the President Jonathan’s and cost of distribution for several of Nigeria’s biggest flour, cement and oil companies. Under the present administration, not only is the railway service back, it has re-commenced movement of goods and people in and out of the North West zone. 850 passengers are transported weekly between Kano and Nguru while 3,450 Passengers are transported thrice weekly between Minna and Kaduna

Did you know?
Under the President Jonathan’s administration The Railways has helped improve efficiency and cost of distribution for several of Nigeria’s biggest flour, cement and oil companies. In addition to the passenger traffic, several tonnes of goods are being transported via the rail sector helping companies improve their efficiencies and bottom-line. Examples of companies currently benefiting from this service includes: Flour Mills which now moves wheat from Apapa to Kaduna and Kano through Connect Rail Limited; Lafarge which now moves 1,500 tons of cement equivalent of 50 trailer loads by rail from Ewekoro to Ibadan, Oshogbo, Ilorin all the way to Minna and Kano; the downstream oil sector which now moves the equivalent of over 30 tankers by rail weekly.

Did you know?
Resumed railway services have reduced wear and tear as well as accidents on the roads since the weekly movement of goods and people began from Lagos to Kano. All of these activities not only save these companies funds but also help to extend the lifespan of the nation’s road network through reduced wear and tear from heavy trucks.

Did you know?
The President Jonathan’s administration has completed rehabilitation work on the 1,124km Western Line from Lagos to Kano and passenger services and haulage were flagged off in December 2012.

TESTIMONIAL: TRAVELLING BY TRAIN:

My wife and son were excited as we got on the train. My wife had never been on a train, same for my three year old son. “Is it safe?” “What if it stops?” “How will we buy food or go to the toilet?” My wife’s questions were endless but I could understand her anxiety. Train travel is not popular in Nigeria but now the trains are running again, transporting goods and people across the country we had a great journey.


#GEJAchievements in Transport: Increase in Traveling by Water
The number of passengers travelling by water was 1.3 million in 2012, compared to a mere 250,000 the previous year President Goodluck Jonathan has proven that he understands the importance of water transport in relieving some of the pressure from the other means of transportation. The Inland Waterways provide alternative means of transporting goods, agricultural produce and services at relatively low rates.

Dredging of Lower River Niger from Baro (Niger State) to Warri (Delta State) has allowed all-year navigation. Much to the credit of his being an indigene of the riverine areas, he has been able to demonstrate only a few people know the waterways like the ones who was practically born and raised by the waters. More also, Onitsha Port has been completed, while Baro Port, Lokoja Port and Oguta Port are under construction and the volume of cargo transported in the inland waterways has doubled in the last two years. In addition to all these, contracts are on course for the dredging of the Lower River Benue and Makurdi River Ports as the president approves the establishment of six Inland Container Depots to ease congestion at the ports all in this infrastructural revolution tenure.


#GEJAchievements in Transport: Aviation Master Plan
INFRASTRUCTURE: AVIATION
Just as Goodluck Jonathan waded into the incessant spate of airplane crashes as well as operational and administrative rots, Nigeria came up with an Aviation Master Plan and Road Map for the first time and there has been a robust revision of the Civil Aviation National Policy for the first time in over 12 years. Also for the first time in over three decades, all 22 federally-owned airports across the country are being remodelled, resulting in improved passenger experience just as five modern international passenger terminals are being constructed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu for the very first time. The obsolete power infrastructure is being replaced/upgraded across major airports in the country and fire-fighting infrastructure now state-of-the-art across the airports

It has indeed been installation and more Installations in the various delicate technical systems of aviation industry operations especially if one reckons with those installations of cutting-edge navigational aids and Instruments Landing Systems (ILS), including runway lights and Total Radar Coverage (TRACON), to enhance air safety; installation of modern, state-of-the-art Communication and Surveillance infrastructure, making communication between Air Traffic Controllers (ATC s) and Pilots much more seamless; installation of state-of-the-art Meteorological infrastructure (Doppler Weather Radars, Low-Level Wind Shear Alerts Systems- LLWSAS) to enhance accurate, timely weather observation, forecasting and reporting; Installation of an Accident Investigation and Analysis Laboratory in Nigeria which is one of the only four in Africa and the only one in the West African sub-region; installation of security infrastructure is also being replaced/upgraded to cope with emerging security challenges.

Also administratively, there were structural adjustments made including the Designation of six Hajj and six Christian pilgrim Terminals; upgrade of NCAT’s training capabilities, expanding beneficial relationships that support training and human capital development in the aviation sector; restructuring of Parastatals to deliver best performance and services; restructuring of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to expand and promote safety oversight, surveillance and human capital development in the industry; development of comprehensive economic and consumer protection regulations, including a Statement of Passenger Rights; Streamlining of General Aviation (GA) to eliminate unauthorised commercial operations, promote scheduled airlines’ profitability and safety; elimination of unfavourable Concession and Lease Agreements that were inconsistent with the public interest, industry growth and advancement; promotion of private sector and international investors’ participation in Nigerian Aviation sector; deployment of modern technology and digitisation of records and processes; creation of cutting-edge revenue collection solutions which eliminate corruption, increase revenue and promotes transparency and efficiency; stringent regime of enforcement, reward for complete compliance and denial of privileges for violations; more friendly operating environment for domestic carriers; and a new leasing company for Aircraft was created.

More also, six airports, namely Jos, Makurdi, Yola, Jalingo, Lagos and Ilorin, which are strategically located in proximity to food baskets have been designated as perishable cargo airports and international standards perishable cargo facilities are being developed at these airports. A new Cargo Development Division has been established in FAAN to give focus to this effort.

Aviation
• For the first time ever, Nigeria has an Aviation Master Plan and Road Map.
• There has been a robust revision of the Civil Aviation National Policy for the first time in over 12 years.
• For the first time in over three decades, all 22 federally-owned airports across the country are being remodelled, resulting in improved passenger experience.
• For the first time, five modern international passenger terminals are being constructed simultaneously in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu.
• Obsolete power infrastructure is being replaced/upgraded across major airports in the country.
• Fire-fighting infrastructure now state-of-the-art across the airports.
• Installation of cutting-edge navigational aids and Instruments Landing Systems (ILS), including runway lights and Total Radar Coverage (TRACON) to enhance air safety.
• Installation of state-of-the-art Communication and Surveillance infrastructure, making communication between Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) and Pilots much more seamless.
• State-of-the-art meteorological infrastructure (Doppler Weather Radars, Low-Level Wind Shear Alerts Systems – LLWSAS) to enhance accurate, timely weather observation, forecasting and reporting.
• Security infrastructure is also being replaced/upgraded to cope with emerging security challenges.
• Installation of an Investigation and Analysis Laboratory in Nigeria. It is one of the only four in Africa and the only one in the West African sub-region.
• Upgrade of NCAT’s training capabilities, expanding beneficial relationships that support training and human capital development in the aviation sector.
• Streamlining of General Aviation (GA) to eliminate unauthorised commercial operations, promote scheduled airlines’ profitability and safety.
• Elimination of unfavourable Concession and Lease Agreements that were inconsistent with the public interest, industry growth and advancement.
• Promotion of private sector and international investors’ participation in Nigerian Aviation sector.
• Deployment of modern technology and digitisation of records and processes.
• More friendly operating environment for domestic carriers.
• Six airports namely Jos, Makurdi, Yola, Jalingo, Lagos and Ilorin, which are strategically located in proximity to food baskets have been designated as perishable cargo airports and international standards perishable cargo facilities are being developed at these airports. A new Cargo Development Division has been established in FAAN to give focus to this effort.


#GEJAchievements in Transport: More Success Stories

Under GEJ’s administration, Nigerian-owned crude oil transportation tankers increased to 400, compared to less than 60 in 2009.

5million passengers carried by rail yearly compared to 1 million before Jonathan.

Lagos-Ibadan-Oshogbo-Ilorin-Minna-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano narrow gauge rail line which started in the pre-Jonathan era was completed under Jonathan’s administration.

Container cargo freight services from Apapa Port Complex which was non-existent before Jonathan has commenced.

Rehabilitation of the Port-Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Enugu-Makurdi-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Ashaka-Maiduguri with branch lines at Kuru to Jos and Kafanchan-Kaduna narrow gauge rail line nearing completion.

5million passengers carried by rail yearly compared to 1 million before Jonathan.

Lagos-Kano, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri and Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail lines were moribund for 15 years before President Jonathan rehabilitated them.

Before Jonathan, only 5000km of federal roads were motorable. Now, 25,000km are in good condition and motorable.

Before Jonathan, Baro Port, Lokoja Port and Oguta Port were non-existent. Now, they are nearing completion.

Number of passengers travelling by water rose from less than 250,000 per year before Jonathan to over 1.3 million.

Cargo transport rose from less than 2m metric tonnes before Jonathan to 5m metric tonnes in 2013.

I do not know what is so special about the
locomotive trains the Nigeria government bought
from China government and now using it to campaign
for re-election. After all, they are used ones as
Chinese people no longer travel on this type of trains.
If the government wants to provide a good rail way
transport system, they should not have bought trains
that has being in use for more than 50 years, painting
them in new colours has nothing to do with the grade
and efficiency of the trains, we deserve a better
life....Below is the type of train we deserve in Nigeria,
bullet trains, electric trains....Not locomotive trains.
Credit: mrbamo