As has always been the case in history, national challenges lead to the introduction of radical alternatives. In the case of Nigeria, this petrol crisis simply has to lead to the introduction of an ambitious railway expansion plan

Ayo Akinfe

[1] We should set ourselves the target of linking all our 774 local government areas by rail by 2030

[2] Abuja and Lagos should be linked by a high speed network allowing travel within two hours

[3] We should build a coastal high speed rail link that connects Calabar to Lagos within two hours

[4] We should launch an Ecowas railway service linking Accra, Abidjan, Dakar, Freetown, Niamey, Bamako, Ouagadougou, Banjul, etc

[5] Our National Assembly needs to pass a bill mandating that all equipment, machinery and components for this ambitious programme must be manufactured locally

[6] By 2030, the entire network must be electric-powered, sending out a statement that Nigeria is weening herself of fossil fuels

[7] Our national railway network must have its own electricity generating and distribution capability so it has nothing to do with the national grid

[8] Every state capital must have an urban metro

[9] Lagos and Abuja must have urban metropolitan underground metro services

[10] Every port, airport, refinery, heavy manufacturing facility and major industrial estate must have a railway link by 2030

Ayoakinfe@gmail.com