Despite the official commissioning of the Makurdi-Port Harcout
intercity passenger train by the federal government to ease the
transportation challenges of the people, it appears that the take-off of
the project is nowhere in sight, leading many people living in Makurdi
wondering whether the commissioning was just a campaign stunt. SOLOMON
AYADO writes
One of the critical issues bugging the minds of many Nigerians is how governments embark on viable projects that would enhance the living conditions of the people but often fail to actualise them. The usual conclusion is that such projects are obviously put up to serve the personal gains of the functionaries at the helm of affairs, rather than foster development that would alleviate the suffering of the populace.
In a country where deception, maneuvering and bad governance have become the order of the day, the political will of having the overall interest of the people at heart and insuring justice is a mirage, as top government functionaries and big wig politicians appear to be only concerned about the development of their private investments.
Although the intercity passenger train recently commissioned by the federal government in Makurdi, Benue State is supposed to ease the many transportation challenges faced by the people, many citizens have been lamenting over the disappearance of the coaches and or their unavailability since the commissioning ceremony took place. Of course, there have been various speculations over the reality of the project, chief amongst which is the belief that the project is basically targeted at propelling a workable campaign strategy for the ruling class. Also, the populous criticism emanating especially from the opposition about the viability of the project may not be unconnected to the general impression that the present administration has failed to fulfill many promises made to Nigerians.
“Since the federal government commissioned the rail coaches in Makurdi to enhance the transportation system, it is rather funny that when I went to buy a ticket so I can board the train, I could not find any. It is rather unfortunate for our government, because it is not concerned about actual development in the interest of the general citizenry,” Abuku Mark told LEADERSHIP Weekend.
Since the Makurdi-Portharcout intercity train coaches were inaugurated by Vice President Namadi Sambo, on January 23 2015, it has been alleged that commercial services have not commenced, with scores of passengers trooping to the place everyday only to turn away disappointed as there are no coaches to board. Others allege that the new coaches were taken away immediately after the project was commissioned.
It is also said that the infrastructure at the terminal, comprising the staff offices, waiters’ lounge and other buildings, were only renovated without modern equipment installed.
LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigations reveal that the coaches sighted at the train station, at the time of this report, were the old ones that are used to convey agricultural produce from the neighboring communities of Gwer west local government area to Makurd, the state capital. However, it was gathered from the authorities that the new coaches only arrive the station at intervals.
The Makurdi railway station is located near the popular GSM village, opposite Tito yoghurt factory. Just as the big railway market is also situated besides it. This is found to have also accorded traders and customers who patronise the market the opportunity to board the train with their goods and personal belongings.
There is a railway industry clinic and a barbing salon situated in the station. This is to see to the welfare of railway staff and passengers.
According to analysts, what is worrisome is the unavailability of the rail coaches for the passengers to journey as well as the running times of the coaches, as this important information is not readily available. There is also widespread speculation that the coaches are owned by big wig politicians and have since been absconded with.
“The trains are not available for passengers to book for tickets and journey to their various places. Passengers troop here everyday asking for the coaches, so there should be proper take off of the system to ease the transportation challenges faced by people,” one of the sources told newsmen.
About five trains with 68 seat capacity air-conditioned passenger coaches were commissioned by the vice president, alongside board chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam.
During the ceremony, Vice President Namadi Sambo explained that the construction of a standard railway system across the country is to enhance transportation and boost commercial activities in the states.
Sambo stated that the railway corporation has been in shambles for the past 27 years and noted that it is the candid intention of President Goodluck Jonathan to completely revitalise the transport sector.
Meanwhile, when LEADERSHIP Weekend visited the terminus in Makurdi to evaluate the state of the project, an official of the railway who did not want his name in print, told to our reporter that after the commissioning of the project, the coaches went to Port Harcout, adding that they ply the rail every Tuesday to Kafanchan in Kaduna State.
According to him, full operations have commenced in the station and the rumours peddled by members of the public that the coaches were taken away after the flag off of the project were unfounded and malicious.
“After the commissioning of the project, the coaches went to Portharcout. Full operations have commenced. The coaches move every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from Portharcout at 8 am to Kafanchan by 12 noon and return back to Makurdi. They spend 30 minutes here for us to check locomotion before they proceed,” the source stated.
He added, “I am not sure the PDP will merely wants to deceive the people and so the rumours that the rail is not working and that the coaches were taken away is not true. I want to appeal that anybody who wants to know the state of the rail should come here and get the facts.”
At the moment, there are concerns that the commissioning of the project by the federal government was merely a ploy by the ruling PDP to score a political point. Whether the state of the project is functional and the services which the newly procured coaches are meant to offer are available, only time will tell.
One of the critical issues bugging the minds of many Nigerians is how governments embark on viable projects that would enhance the living conditions of the people but often fail to actualise them. The usual conclusion is that such projects are obviously put up to serve the personal gains of the functionaries at the helm of affairs, rather than foster development that would alleviate the suffering of the populace.
In a country where deception, maneuvering and bad governance have become the order of the day, the political will of having the overall interest of the people at heart and insuring justice is a mirage, as top government functionaries and big wig politicians appear to be only concerned about the development of their private investments.
Although the intercity passenger train recently commissioned by the federal government in Makurdi, Benue State is supposed to ease the many transportation challenges faced by the people, many citizens have been lamenting over the disappearance of the coaches and or their unavailability since the commissioning ceremony took place. Of course, there have been various speculations over the reality of the project, chief amongst which is the belief that the project is basically targeted at propelling a workable campaign strategy for the ruling class. Also, the populous criticism emanating especially from the opposition about the viability of the project may not be unconnected to the general impression that the present administration has failed to fulfill many promises made to Nigerians.
“Since the federal government commissioned the rail coaches in Makurdi to enhance the transportation system, it is rather funny that when I went to buy a ticket so I can board the train, I could not find any. It is rather unfortunate for our government, because it is not concerned about actual development in the interest of the general citizenry,” Abuku Mark told LEADERSHIP Weekend.
Since the Makurdi-Portharcout intercity train coaches were inaugurated by Vice President Namadi Sambo, on January 23 2015, it has been alleged that commercial services have not commenced, with scores of passengers trooping to the place everyday only to turn away disappointed as there are no coaches to board. Others allege that the new coaches were taken away immediately after the project was commissioned.
It is also said that the infrastructure at the terminal, comprising the staff offices, waiters’ lounge and other buildings, were only renovated without modern equipment installed.
LEADERSHIP Weekend’s investigations reveal that the coaches sighted at the train station, at the time of this report, were the old ones that are used to convey agricultural produce from the neighboring communities of Gwer west local government area to Makurd, the state capital. However, it was gathered from the authorities that the new coaches only arrive the station at intervals.
The Makurdi railway station is located near the popular GSM village, opposite Tito yoghurt factory. Just as the big railway market is also situated besides it. This is found to have also accorded traders and customers who patronise the market the opportunity to board the train with their goods and personal belongings.
There is a railway industry clinic and a barbing salon situated in the station. This is to see to the welfare of railway staff and passengers.
According to analysts, what is worrisome is the unavailability of the rail coaches for the passengers to journey as well as the running times of the coaches, as this important information is not readily available. There is also widespread speculation that the coaches are owned by big wig politicians and have since been absconded with.
“The trains are not available for passengers to book for tickets and journey to their various places. Passengers troop here everyday asking for the coaches, so there should be proper take off of the system to ease the transportation challenges faced by people,” one of the sources told newsmen.
About five trains with 68 seat capacity air-conditioned passenger coaches were commissioned by the vice president, alongside board chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam.
During the ceremony, Vice President Namadi Sambo explained that the construction of a standard railway system across the country is to enhance transportation and boost commercial activities in the states.
Sambo stated that the railway corporation has been in shambles for the past 27 years and noted that it is the candid intention of President Goodluck Jonathan to completely revitalise the transport sector.
Meanwhile, when LEADERSHIP Weekend visited the terminus in Makurdi to evaluate the state of the project, an official of the railway who did not want his name in print, told to our reporter that after the commissioning of the project, the coaches went to Port Harcout, adding that they ply the rail every Tuesday to Kafanchan in Kaduna State.
According to him, full operations have commenced in the station and the rumours peddled by members of the public that the coaches were taken away after the flag off of the project were unfounded and malicious.
“After the commissioning of the project, the coaches went to Portharcout. Full operations have commenced. The coaches move every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from Portharcout at 8 am to Kafanchan by 12 noon and return back to Makurdi. They spend 30 minutes here for us to check locomotion before they proceed,” the source stated.
He added, “I am not sure the PDP will merely wants to deceive the people and so the rumours that the rail is not working and that the coaches were taken away is not true. I want to appeal that anybody who wants to know the state of the rail should come here and get the facts.”
At the moment, there are concerns that the commissioning of the project by the federal government was merely a ploy by the ruling PDP to score a political point. Whether the state of the project is functional and the services which the newly procured coaches are meant to offer are available, only time will tell.
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