Ikenna Ahumibe Calls for Rail Expansion Under Tinubu

Ikenna Ahumibe, an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate, urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the expansion and modernization of Nigeria's railway system in an open letter dated October 7. Ahumibe stated that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on roads for passenger and freight transport, highlighting the negative consequences of this dependency, such as traffic congestion, road deterioration, increased transportation costs, and road accidents.

He cited the recent gridlock on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road as an example, suggesting that a functional rail network could have alleviated the situation for many motorists. Ahumibe proposed that various goods, including cement, agricultural produce, and petroleum products, could be transported by rail, thus easing road pressure and lowering costs.

He called for a review of stalled rail projects, including the Warri-Itakpe-Ajaokuta line and the Calabar-Maiduguri corridor, advocating for increased annual rail allocations and modernized infrastructure to enhance rail transport safety and efficiency.