Maritime Nigeria

Main Menu

  • Home
  • News
  • Interviews
  • Maritime Info
  • Photo Gallery
  • Fact
  • Profiles

logo

Header Banner

Maritime Nigeria

  • Home
  • News
    • Maritime Academy: A Very Critical National Asset-Dr. Okonna

      Jul 31, 2025
      0
    • "Efficient Sea Ports Crucial To Africa's Economic Growth"-Dr. Dantsoho

      Jul 30, 2025
      0
    • Nigeria's IMO Council Bid Gains Traction With MOWCA Executives

      Jul 30, 2025
      0
    • Customs Urge Nigerians To Comply With Visa Regulations

      Jul 30, 2025
      0
    • "MAN A Pivotal Institution For The Blue Economy" Senator Eshinlokun

      Jul 29, 2025
      0
    • Nigeria Customs Set To Recover ₦379.5Billion From 223 Companies

      Jul 25, 2025
      0
    • Seme Command Records N1.5b Revenue, Makes N1.2b Seizures

      Jul 24, 2025
      0
    • SON Celebrate Inuwa As Board Chairman

      Jul 21, 2025
      0
    • "How JournalNG Emerged Best Maritime Magazine"-Kagbare

      Jul 21, 2025
      0
  • Interviews
    • Nigeria Takes Leadership Of MOWCA

      Nov 18, 2021
      0
    • APM Participates in UK Trade Expo

      Oct 31, 2021
      0
    • Reps Seek Admission at MAN

      Dec 7, 2020
      0
    • NIMASA URGE SHIP OWNERS TO RENEW CABOTAGE LICENSES

      Oct 5, 2020
      0
    • FG Sacks Aboloma As NAIC Gets New EDs

      Aug 28, 2020
      0
    • Britain Celebrate Nigerian In Covid Efforts

      Jul 26, 2020
      0
    • Zuckerberg Backs Trump Against Twitter

      May 28, 2020
      0
    • NAFDAC DG Sheds Light On Chloroquine, Herbals, Masks and Covid19

      May 12, 2020
      0
    • Reps Threaten MDAs

      Feb 24, 2020
      0
  • Maritime Info
    • 2023 POP: Minister Task Cadets On Blue Economy

      Dec 15, 2023
      0
    • Rector, Trainees Excited, Laud FG On Modern Academy

      Jan 26, 2023
      0
    • Buhari Redeploys Minister As NPA, NIMASA, MAN, Others Get New Boards

      Apr 7, 2022
      0
    • World Bank Endorse Nigerian Ports, Partners Navy On Capacity Building

      Mar 19, 2022
      0
    • NIMASA Commend Nigerian Navy, Reassures On Floating Dock

      Feb 9, 2022
      0
    • MAN Unveils Lighthouse For Training of Cadets

      Jan 27, 2022
      0
    • shipping

      Singapore Strait Dangerous To Shipping-ReCAAP

      Jan 24, 2022
      0
    • Lekki Deep Sea Port Will Increase Port Efficiency-Amaechi

      Jan 24, 2022
      0
    • Fair Competition: NSC Partners FCCPC For Effectiveness

      Jan 21, 2022
      0
  • Photo Gallery
    • SERAP Calls for Probe of Entire Privatization Processes 1999-2011

      Dec 4, 2017
      0
    • IMO Election: South Africa, Kenya, Liberia, Morroco and Egypt Make Category C

      Dec 2, 2017
      0
    • Maersk Ship on Fire as Coy Launches Six Container Lifting Tech

      Nov 2, 2016
      0
    • Captured Seafarers Languish In Captivity without Ransom

      Nov 1, 2016
      0
    • Niger Delta: Militants Ask FG to Include Former Agitators in Negotiations

      Nov 1, 2016
      0
    • Self-Audit: NIMASA Set to Review 3% Freight Charge

      Nov 1, 2016
      0
    • Recession: Japanese Shipping Companies to Merge

      Oct 31, 2016
      0
    • NSC Partners ICS on Capacity Building

      Oct 31, 2016
      0
    • AGAIN, APAPA CUSTOMS SURPASS MONTHLY TARGET WITH N33B COLLECTION

      Oct 5, 2016
      0
  • Fact
    • Maritime Police Boss Celebrate Workers

      May 1, 2025
      0
    • “VIN Is A Trade Tool, Not Punitive”-Customs

      Mar 2, 2022
      0
    • Blackmailers, False Publishers and Their Agents: Court Clears Rector

      Feb 18, 2022
      0
    • MAN Unveils Lighthouse For Training of Cadets

      Jan 27, 2022
      0
    • "APM Terminals Is Beyond Moving Boxes Around"-Laursen

      Jan 24, 2022
      0
    • MWUN: Welfare, Safety Our Priority-Adeyanju

      Dec 27, 2021
      0
    • Reversing the Trend: Koko Breaks Record at NPA

      Dec 24, 2021
      0
    • Minister Demands More From MAN At Passing Out Parade

      Dec 20, 2021
      0
    • MARITIME NIGERIA TASK NIMASA ON MARITIME DEVELOPMENT

      Dec 15, 2021
      0
  • Profiles
    • CMA CGM Brings AI Onboard

      Jun 5, 2018
      0
    • Customs Notify 577 Officers of Retirement by Eguono Odjegba

      Jan 12, 2018
      0
    • Over 100 Persons Feared Dead in Mediterranean Ship Wreck

      Nov 3, 2016
      0
    • Ballast Water: Panama Signs Up

      Oct 24, 2016
      0
    • Ist Half Report: Customs generate N385.7bn revenue

      Aug 15, 2016
      0
    • Minister/MD Speeches at the Launch of NPA's CCCIS

      Jul 23, 2016
      0
    • Face off Imminent as Dakuku Warn IOCs to Sit Up or Stay ...

      Jul 22, 2016
      0
    • Hadiza, Welcome to NPA

      Jul 16, 2016
      0
    • Habib Abdullahi Sacked Again from NPA

      Jul 12, 2016
      0
  • Maritime Academy: A Very Critical National Asset-Dr. Okonna

  • “Efficient Sea Ports Crucial To Africa’s Economic Growth”-Dr. Dantsoho

  • Nigeria’s IMO Council Bid Gains Traction With MOWCA Executives

  • Customs Urge Nigerians To Comply With Visa Regulations

  • “MAN A Pivotal Institution For The Blue Economy” Senator Eshinlokun

FeaturedNews
Home›Featured›RAIL LINES: NARROW GAUGE NOT INFERIOR-Minister

RAIL LINES: NARROW GAUGE NOT INFERIOR-Minister

By Editor
Mar 15, 2021
1754
0
Share:
*Standard Gauge line cost  11 to 14 billion dollars to construct
*Narrow Gauge  Cost 3.2 billion dollars
*Speed: 120/100km per hour

Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Transport Minister

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said that narrow gauge rail lines were not inferior to the standard gauge lines.
In a statement by his media aide, Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni, on Sunday in Lagos, the minister said that the only difference between the two lines was speed.
Amaechi was reacting to allegations that the narrow gauge lines were inferior, sub-standard and outdated in other parts of the world.
NAN recalls that some stakeholders had accused the minister of recommending the narrow gauge to the federal government instead of the standard gauge to maximise the benefits of modern rail transportation.
But he explained that the Eastern rail line was going to have both the narrow and standard gauges, adding that the cost of the standard gauge, feasibility and time frame informed the choice.
The minister said it was cheaper to rehabilitate the narrow gauge, which would cost about 3.2 billion dollars, and could be delivered within the approved time frame.
Amaechi said that the standard gauge lines was going to cost about 11 to 14 billion dollars to construct, adding that getting the funds within the limited time was not feasible because of other projects awaiting funding.
“The standard gauge line is between 11 to 14 billion dollars to construct on the Eastern flag, the standard gauge as designed in Nigeria is 150km design speed, operational speed is 120km; what is the difference between 120km and 100km? The narrow gauge is about $3.2 billion dollars at 100km per hour.
“The standard gauge, which is at 11 to 14 billion dollars, is 120km per hour. So if you take off with the standard gauge let’s say to Damaturu, you will arrive 20 minute before me that use the narrow gauge.
“The narrow gauge is cheaper at 3 billion dollars against the 11 to 14 billion dollars to construct the standard gauge. Why we did not get the approval for the narrow gauge on time was because the President’s insistence on the standard gauge from Port Harcourt-Maiduguri.
“My argument was if I can achieve the same length of rail with 3 billion dollars why not take that first until when we get money, we can now go for the standard gauge. The difference made him approved the standard gauge as designed but until we get the money, because if we continue to wait until we get the 11 billion to 14 billion dollars, we may not be able to construct the Eastern flag before we leave government,” Ameachi said.
On his part, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhria, said that the narrow gauge line was not outdated or less efficient, stating that there should not be a  comparison.
Okhiria said that Nigeria was the first African country to introduce standard gauge line, noting that South Africa and other African countries still use the narrow gauge lines.
“In the whole of Africa, Nigeria is the only country that has introduced a standard gauge line.
“South Africa, India and other countries are still using the narrow guage lines introduced by their colonial masters, other African countries are still using what the colonial masters constructed. The Eastern rail line has both the standard and the narrow gauge lines to be constructed; the narrow gauge will be rehabilitated now because the fund is available but the reality of getting the 13 billion dollars now to construct the standard gauge line is not feasible”.
“So, the narrow gauge is not inferior in anyway, the difference is in the speed and it cannot carry more load like the standard gauge because the standard gauge is wider while the narrow guage is narrower which doesn’t make it less effective than the standard gauge.
“About the cost, there should be no comparison with the cost because one is $13 billion while the other is about 3.2 billion dollars, 10 billion dollars difference.”
The Director, Rail and Transport Services, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Mr Muhammad Baba-Kobi, also said that the difference between the narrow and the standard gauge rail lines is the width within the inner edge of the track which is called the gauge.
He said that the narrow gauge in Nigeria is about 1,067mm which is about 3ft, in some countries it is 600mm which is 2ft while the standard gauge is 1,437mm which is a little bit more than 4ft.
Baba-Kobi said that there were other gauges like the Broad Gauge with 1,670mm and the 2,000mm gauge with a wider distance.
He explained that the use of any of the gauges is by choice, noting that places with hilly and curve terrain like Port Harcourt-Maiduguri corridor, the narrow gauge would be the best because it is easy to negotiate curves and it is lighter.
“The choice of one or the other relies on certain factors, either you put the standard or narrow gauge, you will still have an efficient and functional trains; it just depends on your operational planning, it depends on where you want to take your train to.
“But technically,  in most places where you have hilly roads that you have to negotiate into valleys, hills and places with curves, the best in terms of Engineering for that terrain is the narrow gauge because it is lighter, easy to navigate curves that are smaller and the engine can easily thrive.
“Talking on the speed, it depends on how the locomotive is powered. Narrow gauge doesn’t mean it is inferior, just a choice that you make purely from the kind of terrain you are passing through; in some places narrow gauge is more expensive than the standard gauge,” he said.
Baba-Kobi maintained that the narrow gauge was the best choice, aside the cost, considering the terrain of the Eastern rail line because of the hills and curves.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)

Related

Previous Article

LIVE STOCK INDUSTRY WORTH N33t-MINISTER

Next Article

Nigerian Ports Loses $55m Daily To Corruption ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • News

    Safe Navigation: MOWCA Gets Sierra Leon Back Up

    Apr 24, 2024
    By Editor
  • News

    Serial Blackmailer, Martins Ugwu, Gets 4yrs In Prison To Refund N17.2m

    Nov 28, 2024
    By Editor
  • News

    MARITIME ACADEMY: Ag Rector Mulls Partnership With Host Communities

    Jan 23, 2025
    By Editor
  • FactFeaturedNews

    FOR A JOB WELL DONE, FG SALUTE EFFEDUA

    Aug 30, 2021
    By Editor
  • FactMaritime InfoNews

    MV NAVE ANDROMEDA WAS NOT IN NIGERIA-NPA

    Oct 26, 2020
    By Editor
  • News

    blow the whistle’ Nigerian urge Maina

    Nov 1, 2017
    By Editor

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • FactFeaturedNews

    MAN UNVEILS THREE YEAR SCORECARD

  • Featured

    Dakuku Advocates Blue Economy

  • FeaturedNews

    Senate Rejects Maritime University Lokoja

Looking For Something?

Read From

  • Agriculture
  • Customs Operations
  • Fact
  • Featured
  • Interviews
  • Maritime Info
  • News
  • One Question
  • Photo Gallery
  • Profiles
  • sports

Just In

News

Maritime Academy: A Very Critical National Asset-Dr. Okonna

As MAN Trains 4, 595 Professionals, Restores Connection to National Grid, Begins Rewiring The Acting Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN, Oron, Dr. Kevin Okonna, has again emphasized the critical ...
  • “Efficient Sea Ports Crucial To Africa’s Economic Growth”-Dr. Dantsoho

    By Editor
    Jul 30, 2025
  • Nigeria’s IMO Council Bid Gains Traction With MOWCA Executives

    By Editor
    Jul 30, 2025
  • Customs Urge Nigerians To Comply With Visa Regulations

    By Editor
    Jul 30, 2025
  • “MAN A Pivotal Institution For The Blue Economy” Senator Eshinlokun

    By Editor
    Jul 29, 2025
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
© 2013 Maritime Nigeria | All Rights Reserved