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Tag: Alkali

  • Minister Alkali mourns victims of fatal LPG accident in Gombe

    Minister Alkali mourns victims of fatal LPG accident in Gombe

    The Minister of Transportation, Said Alkali, has extended his condolences to the families of five persons who died on Monday after a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vehicle crashed into them at Lawanti village in Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

    The accident, which occurred along the Bauchi–Gombe highway, also left several others injured.

    In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Umar Jibril, the Minister described the tragedy as a significant loss to the bereaved families and to the people of Gombe State.

    Read Also: Abuja–Kaduna train derailment: Alkali, Opeifa rule out sabotage

    The statement read, “My deep condolences to the people of Lawanti district of Akko LGA, Gombe State, and particularly the families of five who lost their lives in a tragedy that involved a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which rammed into them at Lawanti village along Bauchi-Gombe highway on Monday, 12th January, 2026.

    “The incident is a huge loss not only to the bereaved families but to the state as a whole, given the circumstances that led to their death.”

    The Minister who prayed for the repose of the departed souls asked God to grant their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those who sustained injuries in the accident. 

  • Abuja–Kaduna train derailment: Alkali, Opeifa rule out sabotage

    Abuja–Kaduna train derailment: Alkali, Opeifa rule out sabotage

    …apologise to journalists over ill treatment

    The Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr. Kayode Opeifa, have assured Nigerians that the Abuja–Kaduna rail service remains safe, dismissing speculation that last week’s train derailment on the corridor was the result of sabotage.

    Speaking to journalists at the State House over the weekend, the Minister said investigations into the incident are ongoing, but preliminary findings suggest that it was caused by an operational issue rather than any deliberate act.

    “We have fixed the point machine from here up to Kaduna, and since then, there has been no issue of derailment. For this incident, investigations are ongoing, and we don’t want to preempt the committee until it submits its report,” Alkali explained.

    A point machine, also known as a switch motor, is a critical component of railway infrastructure that enables trains to move from one track to another and secures the tracks in place.

    Modern systems are often fitted with sensors to confirm the positioning of the blades and ensure safe operations.

    Read Also: Suicide: Senator raises alarm as Nigeria’s toll hits 16,000 annually

    The Minister acknowledged that the country still grapples with recurring cases of vandalism of railway assets despite several arrests and prosecutions in recent years.

    He noted that the federal government, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser, is finalising a comprehensive plan to bolster the protection of critical rail infrastructure.

    Alkali also hinted at ongoing procurement processes to extend rail connectivity from Warri to Ajaokuta and Abuja.

    On efforts to restore the Abuja–Kaduna corridor following the accident, Alkali disclosed that four of the ten derailed coaches had been successfully evacuated using specialised rail cranes, while work continued to remove the remaining coaches and repair the damaged section of the track.

    He assured commuters that every effort was being made to resume normal services as quickly and safely as possible.

    The incident has drawn attention to Nigeria’s broader rail safety challenges.

    Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal that between 2020 and 2025, the country has recorded 188 train derailments.

    Significantly, 183 of these occurred in just a three-year span: 57 in 2020, 61 in 2021, and 65 in 2022, underscoring derailments as the most common type of railway accident in recent times.

    Observers have pointed to factors such as poor maintenance, ageing infrastructure, vandalism, and gaps in security as persistent problems for the rail sector.

    Responding to media reports that N30 billion was allocated in the 2023 federal budget for rail security, the Minister clarified that although such a proposal was presented, it was not captured in the final Appropriation Act.

    He, however, reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in new security measures, including advanced acoustic sensing systems to monitor and protect rail lines.

    On the issue of press access during the incident, NRC Managing Director, Dr Kayode Opeifa, apologised unreservedly to journalists, particularly to Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) reporter Comrade Ladi Bala, who was reportedly denied access to the accident scene.

    His apology followed a protest letter from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), which had strongly condemned the harassment of its immediate past national chairperson.

    “If any journalist or medium felt excluded or not well treated at the accident scene, I take full responsibility and I sincerely apologise. We are committed to transparency and will continue to provide the press with access and information as events unfold,” Opeifa said.

    He also addressed concerns about safety, noting: “Nationwide, rail tracks are constantly targeted by vandals and scrap syndicates. But with specific reference to this incident, the track showed no signs of sabotage or structural failure. Our initial findings indicate it was an operational accident at a junction point.”

    Opeifa confirmed that all 618 passengers on board the derailed train were safely evacuated adding that twenty sustained minor injuries, while seven were hospitalised but have since been discharged.

    The NRC, he added, has borne all medical expenses for the affected passengers.

    The recent incident has rekindled debates over the safety of Nigeria’s railways, which have experienced a surge in patronage since the federal government launched new standard gauge lines such as the Abuja–Kaduna and Lagos–Ibadan corridors.

    As the NBS figures highlight, however, ensuring consistent safety across the network remains a challenge.

    For now, both the Ministry of Transportation and the NRC maintain that the Abuja–Kaduna line remains secure, with efforts underway to restore full operations and implement long-term measures to guarantee the safety of passengers and rail assets.

  • Tinubu’s reforms yielding positive results, says Alkali

    Tinubu’s reforms yielding positive results, says Alkali

    The Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, speaks on efforts by President Bola Tinubu and why Nigerians should support the reforms of the administration. Excerpts:

    One, the mandate of the ministry is land transport, and we have some parastatals under the ministry. We have the Federal University of Transportation in Daura. We have the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). We have the Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria. And then the main ministry.

    The ministry is to oversight all the parastatals under it. And let me start with the university. First and foremost, when I took over as a minister, I went around to see by myself because seeing is believing.

    So, I said, let me see where we are and where we need to be. I was in Daura for the inspection of the Federal University of Transportation. The university came into being as a corporate social responsibility by one of our contractors, CCECC.

    The university bill was passed into law, and the law was assented by the former president. At the time I took over, it was only the vice chancellor that was appointed.

    But when I went there, I saw a very beautiful edifice that I felt time was of the essence, and we needed to put the structure into use. So, I approached the National Universities Commission (NUC) to appoint a mentor university.

    They appointed Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, because I’m sure you are aware that for a university to take off, at least we need four principal officers. We need the vice chancellor, the registrar, the bursar, and the librarian. So, with ABU, we had the registrar. We had the bursar and the librarian.

    So, we started, but then the university was not captured in the appropriation estimate of 2023. And we needed funding for the take-off.

    So we came back to the ministry, and we approached CCECC to raise some funds for us. Having done that, we started outsourcing lecturers on visit. When they constructed the university, we designated a hostel for the visiting lecturers so that they would not have accommodation issues.

    So, we started with the visiting lecturers. Then , we approached the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as to how to get the students admitted into the university. Then, the portal for fresh admission was closed.

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    We came through ‘Change of Institution’. Graciously, we got over 500 students who applied. After screening them, those who qualified were admitted. Then they started the lectures. Thereafter, we approached Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) for their intervention. When we went, I met the Chief Executive myself.

    They gave us a checklist. Fortunately, the university was able to qualify in all the checklists. The university was enlisted for Tetfund intervention against 2025.

    Graciously, Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, later approved for the enlistment of the university in the 2024 capital budget of the country. So we started. So far, the students are matriculated. As we speak, we have already finished part one. So we were able to achieve this barely in one year. So this is how far we have gone with the university.

    Coming back to the Nigerian Railway Corporation, I visited all the projects. So I went to see Mr. President to give him a brief of the activities of the ministry. He had directed me to continue with all the ongoing projects under the railway modernisation.

    I inspected Lagos to Abuja; Abuja to Kaduna; Kaduna to Kano, and Kano to Maradi. Before I became minister, already Lagos to Ibadan had been put into use for train service. So you see this railway, the economic viability that we have is in freight.

    I got back to the railway and saw how we could start freight. We have two rail lines inside the APMT terminal in Apapa. We have the standard gauge and the narrow gauge. We started the freight on the standard gauge from Lagos to Ibadan. Then we started rehabilitating the old narrow gauge because there was some wash-away along Baro in Niger State. After the rehabilitation was done, we were able to commence freight from Lagos to Kano, so they will be able to put Kano inland dry port into use.

    I’m sure by that, it is going to boost the economic activities and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of the country. So we now came back again to see how we can continue moving the project from Ibadan to Abuja.

    Because Abuja to Kaduna is put into use. So you can see there is a gap between Lagos and Abuja. Mr. President directed the vice president to lead us to the Belt & Road Forum Initiative (BRFI) conference in Beijing.

    The Vice President was granted to have a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping. So, he made that case on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Graciously, the President of China has intervened. As we speak, we are able to raise the funding. We are just about to get the first drawdown so that we are going to fix Ibadan, Kaduna, to Abuja. We still have a gap of Ibadan to Abuja.

    When Mr. President went himself for the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and he made a case for Ibadan to Abuja. The President of China graciously promised to intervene in raising the financing of Ibadan to Abuja. So that by so doing, you will be able to connect Lagos to Abuja, Abuja to Kaduna and Kaduna to Kano.

    We still have Kano to Maradi, but it was awarded to a different contractor. I went to Kano to Maradi to see by myself. But the project is still ongoing.

    In fact, in the last one year that I was here as a minister, I visited the project three times. They have done the earthwork and a lot of culverts. They gave us commitment that they are going to fix Kano to Kaduna and a branch line to Dutse by next year. That is how far we have gone on Lagos to Abuja, Abuja to Kaduna, Kaduna to Kano and Kano to Maradi, respectively.

    Are you impressed with the level of work done so far?

    Yes, I am impressed. In fact, it is not long since I was there, even with the members of the National Assembly, because of the powers conferred on them to oversight all ministries, departments, and agencies.

    I am also impressed they have addressed the media after the inspection. We also have the Eastern narrow gauge. That one is to cover from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. It transverses about five geopolitical zones. Port Harcourt is in South-South, Aba is in Southeast, Kaduna is in Northwest, and then the one in North-Central and North-East. At the time I took over, the project was just at the outskirts of Port Harcourt.

    I had to mount pressure on the contractor at least to see how we can fix Port Harcourt to Aba so that we will be able to start the train service. And I am sure if you have been to Port Harcourt recently, you can see how bad the road from Port Harcourt to Aba is. So we are able to fix Port Harcourt to Aba for train service.

    We now came back to see how we can now continue with the project to fix Port Harcourt to Onne, and Port Harcourt to Port Harcourt Port, so that we will be able to start freight from Onne to Aba. At least Aba is one of the viable commercial cities in the Southeast so that we will start freight. This is how far we have gone with the railway.

    Recently, an investor approached the ministry to see how we can start retrofitting our locomotives. You know you cannot do conversion with high-level engines like cars and generators. The only way we will be able to save cost, especially with the withdrawal of subsidy, is to start retrofitting the locomotive.

    We have successfully retrofitted one locomotive, partly diesel, and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), about 80 per cent is LNG, while the 20 per cent is diesel. By that, you will be able to save a lot of cost.

    In fact, we have reached a milestone with the investor so that he will bring some locomotives and some wagons so that he will start freight in some of the corridors. That one, too, has reached an advanced stage. This is how far we have gone with the railway.

    Coming back to the NITT in Zaria, we have started conversion centres. We have one centre in Zaria. We have another one in Abuja here. We are about to commence the one in Enugu and Lagos very soon. By the grace of God, what we want to achieve is to have the conversion centres in all the 36 states of the Federation.

    Which of these feats do you think could enhance the prospects of the ministry in terms of visibility and contributions to the nation’s economic development?

    Of course, it has to be all of them because each of the parastatals has its mandate. As I have briefed you, each of the mandates has its own impact on the economic growth and development of the country.

    What special role did you play towards the much publicised visibility of the university in Zaria?

    Of course, I have told you. This is the role I have played because I have a responsibility as a minister oversighting the university. The university is under our own supervision. The enlistment of the TetFund, the admission, the appointment of the mentor  University, how to outsource lecturers on visiting – all this was done under my watch.

    What effort is the ministry of transport undertaking to address the multiplier effects of the removal of subsidy on petroleum producers, especially in the transport sector, which is considered a strong pillar of the economy?

    With the Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria, I told you we have started the conversion. We have one centre in Zaria. We have another one in Abuja. And very soon, the one of Enugu and Lagos will be put into use. Gradually, of course, the journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step. As we are making progress, we intend to cover all the states of the federation.

    By the time you are able to achieve the conversion, I am sure if you have a car, the cost you are going to spend to refill the cylinder and the distance the cylinder is going to cover, you have about 300 per cent to 400 per cent savings compared to petrol or diesel.

     What role does the ministry play in sustaining smooth industrial relations in the rail sector and the main relations among various trade unions and associations providing transport services in the sector?

    The ministry has a role here because we are coordinating the railway sector, the transport sector. In fact, as we speak, we have approached Mr. President for an intervention in the infrastructure, even on the road.

    He has graciously approved for the construction of port terminals, one in each geopolitical zone. He has directed the Ministry of Transportation to liaise with the Ministry of Finance to continue funding the terminals through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). After constructing the terminals, he also directed us to concession the terminals for long-term viability.

    On the railway as well, the ministry is having synergy with the National Assembly to see how we can unbundle the railway. By the time you repeal and enact the Railway Act, it allows private sector participation. For instance, now, if the private sector can come and invest in the sector, you bring your coaches, you bring your locomotive, and you bring your wagons.

    Then we concession a corridor for you, so that you start freight, you start train service. Also, the ministry has developed a land transport policy. We don’t have a land transport policy in the country.

    We were in Abeokuta for the annual conference. We presented the draft report before all the stakeholders so that they would make their input. In fact, by the grace of God, in the next one or two weeks, we are going to take the report to the council for approval.

    How are you trying to synergise with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy?

     It doesn’t have to do with marine and blue economy, because it’s a land transport policy.

    I am talking about synergising  in terms of transportation generally, from rail to water to air.

    That is why we are very, very categorical that the policy is land transport policy, not transport policy. Assuming we said it’s a transportation policy, then it affects both land and water. But this one is very specific, national land tra nsport policy.

    Are the agencies under your ministry really delivering the presidential priorities?

    Of course they are. All these I have mentioned are in the priority list of Mr. President. The conversion centres, the takeover of the university, the freight service, the rail service, all these are his priorities. Because even the primary responsibility of government, welfare is one of them.

    What key challenges did you encounter when you took office?

    The key challenge is with the financing because this project was predicated on the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction and Financing (EPC+F) model. The federal government is to raise 15 per cent through appropriation, which Mr. President has done. But it’s still difficult for the contractors to raise the financing. But we are on top of the situation gradually.

    But there is  the assumption that the transport ministry has a lot of money. So how come you have financing challenges?

    It’s a contract. When a contract is predicated on EPC+F, the country is governed by rule of law, the government has done its own part to through appropriation. The contractor is expected to go and raise the financing on behalf of the federal government. It’s already a contractual agreement, and you have to abide by it.

    Lately, there have been incidences of rail derailment in some parts of the country. Are you worried, and what are you doing in that respect?

    Of course, I should be worried as a minister. Some of them are human error, and some of them are technical. But when the incidences started, I called the Managing Director of the Railway and all the team of its engineers. And we have done a lot of things there, but because it’s a security issue, it’s not something I can mention here.

    There’s this whole noise about Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) now. The ministry of transport is rarely mentioned in most of their events. What role are you playing because the government has so invested in this CNG thing. What part are you playing? Are you involved at all?

    Of course I should be, as a minister of transportation, it is to have a synergy between the ministry and the presidential committee. Not only that, I told you, even our parastatal in the ministry, we have started the conversion from diesel to CNG, or petroleum to CNG.

    What’s that parastatal called?

    The Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology. A lot of federal government agencies have brought their cars, and we have done the conversion. The Nigerian army has brought their patrol vehicles, and the institute has done the conversion because they have a conversion centre here in Abuja, from petrol to diesel. And when you are in a difficult terrain, you revert  to your petrol and keep moving

    The Warri-Itakpe rail line is in a mess right now. At a point, they had at least 10 coaches on that line. Now they have two. This is causing a lot of hardship for travelers. Many people now stand throughout, and others buy tickets at higher prices.

    You have to access your ticket online. Do you understand? So, you go online, and you obtain your ticket. Then why will you allow somebody to collect extra from you? That is not allowed. These are some of the things that encourage public officers. It’s not allowed.

    People stay awake all night just to buy tickets, but they say it doesn’t work

    You see, let me tell you something that you didn’t know. How much does it cost to buy one litre of diesel? What is the cost? How much is the diesel consumption of one locomotive? What I’m trying to tell you is that the money you are paying for the ticket, NRC doesn’t recover the cost of the diesel. So, it is the government that provides subsidies there for you to get the ticket at N5,000.

    If I may ask you, if you are coming by road, how much do you pay? Now you are paying N5,000 here. So, you can see what the federal government has done for you.

    Is it possible for the federal government to raise the price of tickets, at least to recover costs, because most of the coaches are broken down?

    That is why we are trying to bring private investors. So that by the time they come and put in their investment, they will bring more coaches and more locomotives. But as we speak, if we raise the money, it’s another trouble.

    You will be the first person to say the federal government has increased the price of the railway ticket. You will be the first person to make the complaint. So, you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, which is very difficult to operate.

    But is it not better than having broken down coaches?

    Probably you said that because you will be able to afford the N10,000. And a lot of people may not afford the 10,000. So, we are trying to be too considerate. Because the government is mindful of the hardship. We are trying to see how we will make some little palliatives.

    Maybe if you remember, like December last year, the president provided palliatives for free train rides across all the corridors. During Christmas and up to New Year and this was to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of the subsidy.It’s a primary responsibility of government to provide welfare.

    Lastly, what role or to what extent do you think your ministry is pivotal to the failure or success of the present administration?

    You see, transportation is one of the key priority areas of this administration. That is why since I took over, I am always on the move to see how we will be able to meet up to his priorities. So, we are up and doing. And we will continue to do the best we can do.

  • Coalition lauds Alkali’s reappointment as NEDC MD

    Coalition lauds Alkali’s reappointment as NEDC MD

    The Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (COTAG), has lauded the reappointment of Mohamed Goni Alkali as the Managing Director, North East Development Commission (NEDC).

    The leading Africa’s civil society group said his reappointment by President Bola Tinubu was not a mistake.

    Country Director of the Coalition, Comrade Adetunji Ojo Bello, in a press statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, described Mr. Alkali as a square peg in a square hole.

    He said the MD had performed creditably well in his first tenure and was the best person to consolidate on the laudable achievements, having  started them in the first place.

    “NEDC is one of the government agencies and parastatals that our Coalition has been tracking in Nigeria as our core mandates and we are in the best position to make informed comments about the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and activities of the organization.

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    “We followed events that played out before President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu reappointed Alhaji Goni Alkali as the Managing Director of North East Development Commission and we were satisfied that the President did not give in to distractions. He is a man who is focused and ready to get Nigeria to the promised land and whoever that has what it takes for the President to achieve his renewed hope agenda, he would go for the person, not minding the tribe, age, religion, gender or political differences.

    “The reappointment of Alhaji Goni Alkali was a great blessing to the Commission, the people of North East region and Nigeria at large, owing to his giant strides and gains in office in the first tenure, which records are available to the public.

    “We at the Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Governance (COTAG) perceived his re-appointment by Asiwaju as a reward for hardwork, selfless sacrifices and probity which he has continued to demonstrate in service to humanity.

    “Despite facing the huge challenge of insurgency on daily basis, Alkali was able to touch virtually all areas of necessities, which include, infrastructural development, health care, education, agriculture and youth empowerment, among others; these he did across the six states making up the North East region of Nigeria.

    “Thus, we were not surprised that, against all odds, the Governors from the six states of the region all endorsed the reappointment of Alhaji Alkali, for his sense of responsibility, integrity, probity, accountability and service delivery, especially, to humanity”, the Coalition said.

    Recall that, President Tinubu had on the 19th July, 2023, nominated Mr. Alkali as Managing Director of NEDC and forwarded his name and those of the Board Members to the Nigerian Senate, for confirmation.

    The Senate confirmed the appointment of Mr. Alkali as the MD of NEDC for the second term on the 26th July, alongside the Board nominees sent by the President.

  • ‘Prof Alkali, others left NNPP due to Kwankwaso’s highheadedness’

    ‘Prof Alkali, others left NNPP due to Kwankwaso’s highheadedness’

    A faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) loyal to the founder of the party, Chief 

    Boniface Aniebonam  has said that the former National Chairman of the party, Prof. Rural Ahmed Alkali and its governorship candidates in Kaduna and Benue States left because of the alleged high-handedness of the Presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. 

    Prof. Alkali, who resigned his chairmanship of the party in March left in September. He led the governorship candidates of the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Alh Abdulsalam Abdulrasaq, the party also hinged the departures on Kwankwaso’s undemocratic tendencies and the desire to take over the structure. 

    While saying that the departures of former National Chairman and others was hurtful , he described them as highly democratic individuals who do not stay where people can’t ventilate. 

    The statement reads: “Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, Prof Bem Angwe, Senator Othman Hunkuyi and several others  left the NNPP due to high handedness and insatiable desire to take over a platform benevolently donated by Dr Boniface O Aniebonam and its mother organisation- NAGAFF for use in the 2023 general election.

    “Recall that the role of Prof Bem Angwe and Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi as signatories to the MOU between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and NNPP leading to the fusion of the Kwankwassiyya and TNM groups has been repeatedly revealed to the press. 

    “Note also that Prof Rufai Alkali emerged as National Chairman  at the convention that cemented the union on March 30th, 2022 but left the party and his position as National Chairman on 30th March 2023 due to allegded high handedness and irreconciliable differences with Kwankwaso on issues of undemocratic tendencies and lately the desire to take over fraudulently, a platform that he was benevolently given by a gentle old man to actualise his ambition of running for the presidency of Nigeria.

    “Prof Bem Angwe, a signatory to the MOU who long ago withdrew his signature before the document itself expired after the 2023 election had allegedly complained of attempts to sell off his governorship ticket in Benue state (which he struggled so hard to win) to the highest bidder. He thereafter developed cold feet even though it affected his performance in the 2023 election despite the overwhelming love he enjoys from the good people of Benue state.

    “Senator Sulaiman Othman Hunkuyi, a signatory to the MOU who also withdrew long ago, on his own part has been at war path with Kwankwaso even while he served within the party’s administrative structure as National Organising Secretary. 

    “He complained of high handedness, imposition, refusal to listen to others and several other reasons while serving the party. The irreconcilable differences extended to the period after emerging as governorship candidate of NNPP in Kaduna state. 

    “While the campaign lasted, there was no noticeable contact or synergy with the governorship candidate due to the rift which was very obvious. 

    “Hunkuyi had communicated his withdrawal from the understanding to the Founder of the party Dr Boniface Aniebonam to whom he also apologised over all the embarrassments faced despite his benevolence during the period they came into the party. 

    “He lamented and described as unthinkable the recent suspension and expulsion of the Founder who the constitution describes as a LIFE member who can’t be dismissed from the party.

    “Prof Rufai Ahmed Alkali, the immediate past National Chairman left the party on 30th March 2023 on grounds of high handedness and dictatorial tendencies of Senator Kwankwaso. 

    “As National Chairman, he operated under the suffocating supervision of Kwankwaso for one year. He queried the decision to take critical decisions in Kwankwaso’s private house as well as the exclusion of vital organs and functionaries of the party in decision making.

    “According to him, he did not want to distort preparations for the election and therefore managed to hang on till March 2023. He was there as Chairman while the actual administrative decisions of the party were taken in Kwankwaso’s private house located in Maitama Abuja.

    “To us as a party, their departure has long being flashed to us, they are highly democratic individuals who do not stay where people can’t ventilate. Our job at this point is to wish them well in their stay in the new party. 

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    “It is our hope that they would enjoy the true essence of internal democracy and openness, the reason why they left NNPP for their new party. 

    “It was truly our desire to have retained them under the new leadership of Dr Agbo Major who is presently working very hard to restore internal democracy and constitutionality in the party’s leadership. Their decision to quit hit us like the thunderstorm at a time the Dr Agbo leadership has set up a Special Committee to interact with them.

    ‘Our doors are still wide open to have them back as co-fathers of the new NNPP we are presently building. At the interim, we wish them well in their struggle to re-invent our dear country, Nigeria through their new political party.”

  • Expectations, tasks before Transportation Minister Alkali

    Expectations, tasks before Transportation Minister Alkali

    The transportation sector is regarded as one of the cash cows through which the country’s economy could be boosted up. ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE examines the potential inherent in the sector and urges the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Seidu Alkali to go for low-hanging fruits and sustain the landmarks set by the Buhari administration in the industry. One other area Alkali should encourage is cycling as a commuting alternative for Nigerians

    One ministry in which Nigerians would never bargain that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration should drop the ball is transportation. The reason is that the Tinubu administration is standing on a rich pedigree of performance.

    When the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over the reigns of power in 2015, transportation was contributing less than four per cent year-on-year to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Not with a derelict sector that was at best too burdened by the sheer size of the demand on a poorly resourced infrastructure and the “planlessness” of successive leaders.

     But, notwithstanding where it met the country, the Buhari administration ran with the only compass with which it had to work, which was the roadmap for the development of the bankrupt railway sector, otherwise called the Nigerian Railway Corporation Masterplan, a 25-year-old document put together in 2002 and would serve out its term in 2025.

     The Buhari administration sustained the rehabilitation of the two narrow gauges which were the country’s assets in railway development, all totalling about 1,500 kilometres.

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     Within its eight years tenure, the Buhari government pushed Nigeria’s total rail assets by networks to five, adding three standard gauges to the two old fixed stock known as the Western and Eastern Rail Lines, which stretched from Lagos to Kano, on the Western Line, and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, on the Eastern Line.

     While the Lagos-Kano line has been rehabilitated, the Eastern Line, which was begun in 2021, is yet to fully gather momentum as a result of the growing insecurity in the Northeast, which had been forcing the train to stop at Gombe, as reaching Maiduguri had become impossible.

     The government delivered on the Abuja to Kaduna Standard Gauge Train Service (AKTS), which, as of 2016, had dragged for 12 years, altered the country’s and Africa’s first standard gauge line Itakpe –Ajaokuta-Warri from its initial industrial, to a commercial line, now known as Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) which had dragged for 35 years and the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge, which is LOT II of the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway, (now known as the Lagos-Ibadan Train Service (LITS)), which commenced in 2016 and began commercial operation in June 2021, adding a total of close to 4,000 kms of rail tracks to the country’s fixed rail assets.

     This is what Saidu Alkali is inheriting and must continue to push.

     Alkali, on whose laps the masterplan expires in two years, must quickly set machinery in motion to actualise a new railway masterplan.

      Alkali must ensure that the third and final Lot of the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge, which currently terminates at Ibadan be taken to Kano. It is by so doing that the Port access which was added to the initial project would make any meaning as cargoes could get to the Kano Dry Port, the final destination. That would put a final seal on the port congestion being experienced at the Apapa Port.

    He must ensure that the country continues to grow its rail networks, which the Buhari administration had proposed to reach all the state capitals, from where the states that are so willing, could link for an intra-city train network.

     He must, as quickly as possible, begin the process of unbundling the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), a process aborted in 2022, when the Abuja-Kaduna rail was attacked by terrorists and over 198 passengers, including crew members, were abducted.

     Still on the railway, Alkali must see to the workability of the amended Nigerian Railway Corporation Act, accented to by former President Buhari on March 17, this year.

     By moving the railway from the exclusive to the concurrent list, the government expected more investments in the railway sub-sector, especially either as regional rail development or the state governments. Nigerians are waiting to see how much success the Tinubu administration can mine from the amended law. Already, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised the bar, upon which the minister would consolidate.

     Beyond that, Alkali must ensure that the healthy relationship with Nigeria’s railway creditor–ChinaExim Bank continues to exist, even as he should ensure that the loan repayment commitments are promptly met.

    He must also ensure the completion of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects as offshoots of the current rail constructions, such as the University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State, which is almost completed and ready to open its doors to first admission in the 2023/24 academic session.

     Expected to be nurtured to profitability under Alkali, is also the Kajola Wagon Assembly Plant, located in Kajola, near Papalanto, Ogun State, which is meant to be grown into a major railway assembly hub to supply the African Continent with rail parts, accessories and wagons.

     There is also a multi-disciplinary university proposed by Pota Engil Nigeria, in Port Harcourt, which is yet to take off largely because the Kano-Katsina-Maradi line had been suspended since 2021 due to the raging insecurity in the Northwest.

    As the Minister of Transportation, Alkali would go into the history books if he bequeaths to Nigeria a Transportation Policy.

     Despite a very healthy and largely youthful population put at over 200 million, Nigeria’s transportation is still essentially dominated by land transportation.

     Of the three major modes of transportation, land remained the most unregulated, the least developed and the most burdened. Despite accounting for over 180 million travel counts daily with huge potential in terms of revenue, land transportation remained a huge spinner if properly harnessed. That is what experts believed a transportation policy would help achieve.

     Happily, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani has pledged the commitment of the ministry to move in that regard and deliver on the policy.

     Largely, Nigeria’s transportation policy has remained in draft form since 1995. Where successive administrations had failed, transportation experts would love to see the Tinubu administration succeed by giving the country a proper policy for transportation that would regulate the sector for efficiency, professionally and with zest.

     As the Chairman of the National Council on Transportation, which is Nigeria’s highest advisory body on transportation, and is constituted by state commissioners of transportation, Alkali must ensure that all resolutions of the NCT are fully implemented.

     One of the resolutions still dragging is to ensure that all 36 states of the federation have a ministry of transportation to coordinate all transportation issues of respective states.

    He must ensure that all states establish a ministry of transportation and employ workers with requisite experience and exposure as transportation experts.

    Alkali is expected to coordinate the transportation element of the N500 billion palliative, which his principal planned to inject into the economy to lift the people from the misery occasioned by the removal of subsidy on fuel.

     The government also proposes to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion companies across the six geo-political zones for the conversion of vehicles to gas and the establishment of gas fuel stations across the country.

     Tinubu’s administration has 45 more months to leave an impression in the minds of Nigerians. What it does on transportation, which is the catalyst of the country’s economic development, is in the hands of Alkali.

  • Subsidy removal: Transport Minister Alkali announces plan to acquire electric vehicles

    Subsidy removal: Transport Minister Alkali announces plan to acquire electric vehicles

    The new minister of transportation, Said Alkali, has unveiled plans to procure electric vehicles in order to alleviate the transportation challenges encountered by Nigerians.

    He explained that the procurement of the vehicles will lead to a downward review in the cost of transportation which is currently high due to the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Alkali made this announcement on Tuesday in Abuja as he commenced his role at the Ministry of Transportation.

    The minister said: “The Ministry of Transport must assume a leading role in improving the public transportation sector to support the numerous policies that are geared towards providing democratic dividends that are accessible to ordinary Nigerians through effective provision of public transport that is secured, affordable and convenient across the country.

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    “So, I am going to ensure that the mass transit system is effective and put in place. The agenda of Mr. President is renewed hope and we will make sure that with the removal of fuel subsidy, we have an effective mass transit system and see how we can procure electric vehicles so that at least the cost of transportation with even the mass transit system is reviewed downward across the country.

    “I will also ensure a sustainable collaboration with related ministries, agencies, and corporate entities to reactivate the road transport and mass transit operations in the country.”

    He also vowed to rehabilitate the rail transport sector targeted at ensuring secure and efficient operation.

    Alkali said: “I will under the careful study of prevailing economic trends, undertake the provision, modernization, rehabilitation, planning, and development of the rail transport sector with efficient security services to support the realization of the primary purpose of government.

    “This initiative will no doubt maximize the potentials embodied in the recent Constitutional alterations that moved rail transport services from the exclusive list to the concurrent list. It will also reduce the frequent menace on our roads characterized by accidents, kidnappings, and armed robbery”.

    Alkali also said he would embark on monitoring and evaluating the performance of agencies under it towards the realization of the government’s renewed hope mandate.

    “To ensure the realization of the “Renewed Hope” of this administration, I have resolved to ensure effective supervision, monitoring, and evaluation of the performance of all the departments of the Ministry and its agencies to meet operational standards, judicious expenditure management, and optimal productivity.

    Alkali, while stating that he would provide enabling work environment for the staff, warned that he would not tolerate any form of negligence and indiscipline.

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    “I will support the provision of a necessary conducive environment while at the same time, maintaining zero tolerance to indiscipline, laxity, inefficiency, and any form of misconduct in the discharge of any official responsibilities.”