The Growth and Expansion of the Nigerian Railway Sector: Colonial – Post Colonial period

Abstract

Railway development is one of the major contributors to economic development and national growth. The development of the railway sector remains an integral aspect of various commercial activities and cultural interactions. Hence, this paper examines the growth and expansion of the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The paper adopted the historical, descriptive and analytical method to analyses data. Primary source was adopted through the use of interview of Nigerian Railway Corporation(NRC) officials whilst the use of secondary source was utilized through various journals, books, and conference literature. The paper examined the transitions in the railway sector. The article traced the colonial epoch as the bedrock for railway system conception in Nigeria. The paper also observed various interventions made by the government during the post colonial period which included the Rail Indian Technical and Economic Service (RITES) intervention, the Ogbomudia intervention and the Chinese modernization in 1995. The paper identified the Chinese 1995 as a success and the subsequent 25years strategic plan which fostered a total restructuring of the sector. Therefore the paper concluded by stressing the need for railway upgrade as one of the major contributors to economic development and cultural activities. It stressed the need for the government to unbundle the railway sector in order to reduce the monopoly of the Nigerian government in the railway sector.