Matters arising! On the intended new railways in Nigeria (we understand the contract has been signed with the Chinese), linking Lagos and Calabar (which amongst other issues surrounding it, caused a Budget-misunderstanding between the Executive Arm of Government and The National Legislature (National Assembly): Is it an East-West Railways (linking many of the major towns and cities between the Eastern and Western part of Nigeria from Calabar to: Uyo, Port Harcourt (tee-off-to Yenogoa to Warri and then unto Benin merging with the line from Onitsha), Aba, Owerri, Ihiala, Onitsha, Asaba, Agbor, Benin (return tee-off-to-Warri to connect to Yenogoa and then to Port Harcourt to Uyo unto Calabar), Ore, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, and then into Lagos); or just a “Coastal Railways”, linking which town and which town from Lagos to Calabar? As a citizen, this writer and many other citizens, need an urgent explanation (emphasis: an urgent explanation as a citizen’s right to know and be informed), from the Federal Government (and especially by the Federal Ministry of Transportation)! This is needed so, because, in the recent times, what we are beginning to hear is that the Lagos-Calabar (and vice versa) rail-link is a “Coastal Railways.” Then the question that follows this recent news is: Which towns is it going to connect and link on its corridor and thorough-fare (and right of way)? What commercial and mass-citizen beneficial value will it be to a great many of Nigerians on the intended route? Or, is it going to be another White-Elephant project without great value to a great many Nigerians? Or is it going to be another “Political-Infrastructure” to shut-out the South-East (Igbos), like the Steel projects that none was sited in Igboland (and now see what has happened to all of them today—they have all become moribund)?
In short, to say the truth and nothing but the truth, if the intended rail-links between Calabar and Lagos, does not link and connect the South-East (nay: Igboland—Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Ihiala, Owerri, Aba, etc.) and then into Port Harcourt, Uyo and Calabar, it will not be of any “great” value—commercial and “mass citizens’ beneficial.” Furthermore, saying it without equivocation, Igbos, have suffered a whole lot of “silent socio-economic and political hatchet-cuts” in the nation’s economic and political decisions; that have undoubtedly denied them greatly (albeit infrastructurally and otherwise), in a country they call theirs (and which they have worked harder than others to keep going).
Indeed, the initial conceptualization of a rail-link between Lagos and Calabar (through Port Harcourt) was called “East-West Railways” that links all the major and minor towns between the Eastern part of Nigeria and Western part of Nigeria. How come, the Goodluck Jonathan Government changed it to “Coastal-Railways”? The same Jonathan, Igbos overwhelmingly and massively voted for and sustained in power (through their now known huge electoral vote and support), and which they now suffer a great backlash and persecution for? To say the least, the question many are now silently and will soon be vociferously asking is: which towns (major and minor) does the intended “Coastal Rails” connect and link? And of what value—commercial and “mass citizens’ beneficial value” will the intended rails be to the nation? Is it another “silent political-tool and decision” to further shut-out Igbos (South Easterners) from such a key national project and infrastructure—when it is now intended to go-through and run-along the coastal towns without Igbo towns? If it is going to be so, when will another one (rail-link) be built to link Igbo-towns and come-into Lagos (which will surely have great commercial value—because the Igbos being one of the most—indeed greatest known economically empowered itinerant people on earth, travel more than any other Nigerian ethnic group and people in Nigeria)?
This writer, is one of the greatest (repeat: greatest) proponents of the East-West Railways. He has written and published on it for a very long time now (please Google his name in the internet on this issue and you will be totally convinced). Also see “The Will” Internet Newspaper of December 19, 2015, which is his latest published write-up on it. Note also that he (this writer), was born in Lagos; schooled in the East (for his Primary, Secondary and First Degree); has lived all his life and still live in Lagos; worked, paid all his taxes in and still work in Lagos; did his Post Graduate studies in Lagos (the Great UNILAG); and therefore is, and has been among the greatest (and most frequent) “shuttlers” (i.e. travellers) between the Eastern and Western part of Nigeria by road and air; and have indeed travelled to all the States in Nigeria (true: he means it! travelling being a great hobby of his); and therefore consequently appreciates how easy and life-enhancing it could have been and will always be to travel between the East and the West of Nigeria: if the East-West Railways has been constructed before now or is built now.
Furthermore, this writer’s father came from the South-East (Igboland) to Lagos in 1932, married and had all his (six) children in Lagos. All his life, he travelled atleast once a year to his village from Lagos and therefore spent a whole lot of his resources (all the years of his life), to keep the transport-sector (albeit between the East and West) of the economy alive and profitable. So also, do all his family-members who are still living; because he (the writer’s father), while alive, acculturated them (his family members) that East and West (and indeed all parts of Nigeria) are all homes and therefore liveable. Also, therefore meaning, we travelled and still travel the length and breadth of Nigeria many times over. In other words, if the East-West Railways (and other national rail networks) had long been provided during my father’s lifetime and heretofore, travelling could have been made easier and life-enhancing for him and all his extended family members (and other Igbos and Nigerians in general): who travelled and still love to travel through and from, and in the said part of Nigeria (East to West and vice versa).
In conclusion, this writer and others like him (indeed many citizens) want to know the towns that will be linked and located on the now intended, and “soon-to-be-built Coastal Railways” (instead of the “East-West Railways” as earlier conceptualized)? Where will it pass-through? Indeed, he (this writer) and others like him—who are unquestionable citizens of this country, have the right to know and wants to know, and therefore deserves an answer from the powers that be on this question(s). Another question: Does the intended “Coastal Rail” have commercial and “mass citizens’ benefits and other life enhancing accoutrements?” In all: with all now said, and soon to be at long-last done, we hope that the South East (Igboland and its linkable towns), will be linked (and located) on the corridors of this now said to be soon built “Coastal Railways” (instead of the earlier conceptualized and tagged “East-West Railways”). We need answers and we deserve atleast one (or many) of it on this issue! God bless Nigeria!!
Written by Ejike Kingsley Osuji.
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