CITIZENS MEMORANDUM: Urgent Intervention to Halt the Destruction of Northern Rail Infrastructure.
To: The Presidency / Federal Ministry of Transportation.
Subject: The Systematic Decommissioning and Loss of Historic Railway Assets in Northern Nigeria.
- Statement of Concern
Recent reports, most notably the Bauchi Incident highlighted by the Bauchi State Government, indicate a disturbing trend of dismantling and removing historic narrow-gauge railway tracks.
These assets constitute the foundational infrastructure of Nigeria’s transport history and represent billions of Naira in untapped economic potential. The current rate of removal whether through unauthorized scavenging or unverified administrative scrapping, poses a direct threat to the economic future of the Northern states and Nigeria’s food security.
- Strategic Importance of the Asset.
The narrow-gauge rail network is not merely old iron, it is the primary artery for low-cost agricultural logistics.
A. Agricultural Backbone.
This network was specifically designed to connect the agrarian hubs of the North to southern markets and international ports.
B. Infrastructure Value.
Replacing these corridors from scratch would cost the federation billions of dollars. Maintaining the right of way and the existing beddings is essential for any future rehabilitation.
- Key Issues for Immediate Addressing:
A. The Transparency Gap.
There is a lack of public clarity regarding who has authorized the removal of these tracks. If these are sales of scrap, the public deserves to know the buyers, the valuation process, and where the proceeds are being directed.
B. Security Failure.
If these removals are the result of vandalism, it indicates a catastrophic failure in the protection of national assets by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and relevant security agencies.
C. The Rehabilitation Contradiction.
While the Federal Government announces contracts for the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri Eastern Flank rehabilitation, the physical tracks are being carted away. Rehabilitation cannot occur if the infrastructure has been hollowed out before work begins.
- Proposed Recommendations.
To protect the interests of the North and the Nigerian economy, we demand the following:
I. Immediate Moratorium.
An official freeze on all scrapping or removal activities involving narrow-gauge tracks across the Northern states until a transparent audit is conducted.
II. Public Audit.
A published report by the Ministry of Transportation detailing the status of all decommissioned tracks and a list of authorized contractors (if any).
III. Community-Based Protection.
The deployment of a joint task force combining the Railway Police and local community-based vigilantes to monitor dormant lines.
IV. Prioritization of Rehabilitation.
A clear, time-bound roadmap for the return of freight services on the narrow-gauge lines to alleviate the current high cost of food and livestock transportation.
- Conclusion
The destruction of these rail lines is the destruction of Northern Nigeria’s competitive advantage in agriculture. We urge the administration to move beyond the Standard Gauge focus and recognize that the existing narrow-gauge network is an irreplaceable asset that must be protected, rehabilitated, and put back to work for the Nigerian people.
Signed,
Comrade, IG Wala.
Advocating for National Interest and Economic Preservation.
Note: Sen. Saidu Alkali’s picture is here NOT as the current Minister of Transportation, but for the matter at hand, he may have something or knowledge of what is going on.
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