Railway in Africa: A Nigerian Dilemma

In Nigeria, as in other African nations, the train has been neglected. Railway plays an important part in any country's progress. It helps in bringing large tonnes of goods from the hinterland to the port for export and the reverse movement of imported goods to the hinterland. All these at a fraction of the cost of using heavy duty road trailers. Railway was the right hand fellow of the industrial revolution.
Rail way also increases internal trade and intercourse of cultures in a nation. It helps reduce congestion of roads especially in African nations with poor infrastructure. It reduces depreciation of other transport facilities like roads and the wastage of lives and luggages associated with over use of road.
Railway is cleaner for the environment and the use of modern railway as a major transport means, with tram, will reduce the incidence of urban slum since people can come from the suburb or other neighbouring towns, for instance at a distance of 100km, to work in big African cities.