nigerian railways (2)

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After 1912

In late 1912 preparations began for the development of another rail way trunk from the Eastern areas of Nigeria to the country's Northeast regions. A deep water port site along the Bonny River was chosen in an area previously known as Isaka now Port Harcourt was subsequently chosen as the location of the terminal. The new trunk was built to benefit major economic activities such as the Udi coalfields in the Eastern and upper Benue regions and also Northeastern towns. The financing of the line was mainly appropriated from Nigerian revenues and reserves.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, extensions such as the Zaria-Gusau-Kaura Namoda (1929) were built. Two others extensions were made in 1930, the Ifo-Idogo and the Kano-Nguru lines.

[edit]1970s-1990s:Technical and financial shortcomings

Since the 1980s, the Nigerian Railway Corporation had been bounded by technical and financial shortcomings, however since the 1960s, its performance had not been stellar. The Nigerian civil war depressed railway operations and in the following decade, the low interest in export commodities and coal resulted in reduced freight haulage.

The corporation rarely placed commercial objectives as a priority and government changes in administration and policy resulted in structural and managerial problems. The use of tracks of narrow gauge strewn with curves and gradients coupled with low maintenance over the years resulted in slow speeds for trains.

In 1978, the Nigerian ministry of Transport employed the services of an Indian group: Rail India Technical and Economic Services to operate the railways. The period also coincided with large capital outlays from the government to the railway sector though a large amount of the money was diverted to an ill fated change to standard guage. The contract resulted in modest positive changes but the contract was not renewed. By the end of the 1980s, reduced funding from the government, import bans and managerial problems decreased the performance of the railways.

The large of employees of the railway corporation at many times were owned arrears leading to low labour morale within the corporation.

Courtesy nigerianwiki

Takeaway: All I ask is for us to,compare the two generations of administrators and spot the difference.