Business

Abuja-Kaduna train breakdown: A taste of the Chinese pudding

Published

3 years ago

November 30, 2020

The Abuja-Kaduna train breakdown that happened last week presents a good illustration of the age-old adage that says: the taste of the pudding is in the eating. From all indications, the taste of the pudding which China is cooking for Nigeria is beginning to emerge already.

For over ten hours, some Nigerians were stranded in the middle of no-where, abandoned in the bush as a result of a failed locomotive. The train ride with all the luxury it purports to offer left a very sour taste in the mouths of the passengers, as they were buffeted by hunger and thirst for several hours, not to talk of failed appointments and the deep fear of being kidnapped due to high level of insecurity around that corridor.

There can be no gainsaying the fact that the breakdown of the locomotive is a foretaste of what is to come. The incident seems to tell Nigerians what the situation will be in the next five to ten years. Unfortunately, a taste of it couldn’t wait. As the transportation minister, Rotimi Amaechi, has said the embarrassing incident is so early in the day, and is quite unexpected. We quite agree with him. If this can happen at this time, less than one year of operation, one can imagine what the case will be in the next ten years.

True, the breakdown of the locomotives was not expected at this time by Amaechi and the government of the day. This is because the Nigerian government officials either trust the Chinese so much or have chosen to underestimate or ignore the famed craftiness and propensity of the Chinese to cut corners. On the other hand, it could be because Nigeria has become a beggar before China, and as the saying goes, a beggar has no choice. In that light, she must take whatever China throws her way.

Indeed, one cannot talk about the train breakdown incident without talking about how the contract that gave birth to it was procured, same with other ongoing rail projects across the country.

These rail projects are being executed with loans from China. The loans are tied to projects and disbursed by the China EXIM Bank, with the interest said to be subsidized by the country’s Ministry of Commerce. The commerce ministry assigns Chinese contractors to execute projects.

With such an arrangement, the project becomes entirely Chinese affair. The money barely gets into the hands of Nigeria since the loans are offered in the form of projects. Thus, most of the funds given out actually go back to China by way of supplies, salaries, allowances and housing of top and middle-level manpower, construction contracts and the whole equipment which are brought in from China.

With all the equipment, including the locomotives coming from China as part of the loan deal, Nigeria is not in a position to know or determine the competitive cost and quality of the equipment. Nigerian negotiators will not know if the shiny locomotive is new or refurbished. All they do is to celebrate the arrival of the locomotives from China, and when everything is put together, they assemble to commission it with fun fare. How long the locomotive or equipment will last is another issue as there is no performance bond signed.

With what has begun to emerge so early in the day, one is afraid how Nigeria will be able to repay the loans, given envisaged breakdowns which might impact on the operation of the railways. The breakdowns, if they become frequent and severe, may render some rail lines unviable, and therefore, disposed to take-over by the Chinese. The story of China loan/infrastructure projects in the developing countries especially, Africa presents a frightening scenario.

Across the African continent, in most of the transactions with China, corruption or kickbacks by government officials have been alleged. The loans are largely concessionary with lots of suspected undercover dealings and perks in favour of African government officials. These come in form of huge kickbacks, which largely do not go through the banking system.

The presence of the kickbacks indicates that the actual cost of investments in the projects will actually fall far short of negotiated loan amounts. This is a cause of worry concerning future default on these Chinese loans.

Another source of worry is the opaqueness of the Chinese projects and loans across all jurisdictions. In every country that China has shown its ‘magnanimity’, all the infrastructure of roads, ports, highways, railways and airports financed with these loans all connect to China in what has been aptly described as the “new silk road.” This means, perhaps, that these infrastructures are forever tied to China.

One curious thing is while China can give Nigeria refurbished locomotives or inferior equipment without batting an eyelid, it is willing to ‘donate’ to her a transport university said to worth $50 million. The amount even a kindergarten pupil knew that might have conveniently built into the inflated cost of the railway projects.

This is similar to its donation of a mighty Secretariat to the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – a gesture which has provided it a good launching pad to gain easy access to virtually all African countries, offering them irresistible loans that are tied to projects. The secretariat was also rumoured to be a mine of classified information for Chinese as they allegedly installed high tech spying gadgets all over the building during its construction.

While the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and the managing director of NRC Fidet Okhiria, have apologized to Nigerians, with the NRC MD promising that the breakdown will not occur again, Nigerians remain skeptical of what the future holds for all the Chinese largesse for Nigeria.

* Business & Maritime West Africa Saturday Editorial

Railway

Lagos-Ibadan rail to get three more trains as NRC opens two new stations

Published

4 hours ago

December 7, 2023

Trends Admin

Lagos-Ibadan rail to get four more trains as NRC opens two new stations

The Nigerian Railway Corporation will soon increase the daily train trips on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line from two to six.
Railway District Manager (RDM) for Lagos, Augustine Arisa, an engineer, disclosed this in an interview with some select journalists including NewsTrends reporter.

He said four more trains, two each from Lagos and Ibadan, would be added as soon as ongoing work on the telecommunication facility was completed. The facility will ensure smooth communication and between the train driver and the control tower.
Arisa spoke just as the corporation has opened for operation two recently completed train stations along the route, Ijoko and Papalanto.
The RDM said, “We currently run two return trips on Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge line. I want to run six trains daily when the telecommunication facility is fully ready.
“I also want to move more containers from the port. This will no doubt positively affect the prices of goods in the market.
“It’s a lot of trailers that will be taken off the road. In the long run, it makes the products being carried cheaper for the final consumers/ buyers
“The double issue of accumulated demurrage and port congestion will also be solved with the evacuation of cargoes by rail. It saves the importer the cost of demurrage and ultimately makes the goods cheaper.”
He also spoke on the measure being taken to reduce the cost of moving containerised goods from Apapa port, Lagos, to Ibadan, Oyo State, following complaints by importers and customs agents.
Already, he said the Managing Director of the NRC, Fidet Okhiria, (an engineer), had set up a committee to review the container haulage rate in order to make it competitive and attractive to more people.
He said, “When the issue came to us, the MD immediately called a meeting and set up a committee to review the situation.
“All over the world, people complain of double handling.”
“On the complaint, we are expecting the report of the committee for a possible downward review of the freight rate,” Arisa added.
Meanwhile, the corporation has officially inaugurated the Ijoko and Papalanto train stations.
The report of the opening was obtained by NewsTrends from the NRC website on Tuesday.
This is therefore good news for people hoping to board or drop the train at these stations.
Before now, the train only stopped at Agege, Abeokuta and Omi Adio after taking off from Mobolaji Johnson Station in Lagos or Obafemi Awolowo Station in Ibadan.

Auto

Excitement as Jetour Steals the Show at Abuja Motor Fair

Published

1 day ago

December 6, 2023

Trends Admin

Excitement as Jetour Steals the Show at Abuja Motor Fair

Jetour, the new kid on the block in the Nigerian auto market, is currently making waves in its debut at the ongoing Abuja Motor Fair.
Jetour’s beautifully decorated pavillion and its array of new vehicles
were one of the major attractions at the auto event holding at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Most visitors to the fair since Monday December 4, 2023 when the fair arena was open, were held spellbound by the aesthetics and unique designs of all the new Jetour models on display.
On parade within the brand’s enclosed stand are X70 Liberty, X-70 Plus Elegance, X-90 Cruise, and Dashing, all sport utility vehicles.
Members of the National Assembly are expected to have a full view of the Jetour dashing beauty on wheels at the assembly complex in Abuja next week where the brand of vehicles will be showcased.
After the official opening ceremony of the Abuja Auto Fair on Tuesday, the special guests including a representative of the Director General of the NADDC Joseph Osanipin had the opportunity to visit each vehicle’s stand at the fair.
The NADDC DG representative could not resist the urge to feel one of the Jetour models X70 Plus Elegance as he stepped into the driver’s seat.
He marvelled at the dazzling dashboard and other features of the resplendent interior.
Obviously impressed by what he saw inside and outside the vehicle, he said, “This is beautiful.”

All the models boasting advanced technologies, comfort and creative designs have kept people at the auto show amazed, especially going by their affordable prices.
Jetour, one of China’s most revered auto brands and launched by Chery Holding Group in 2018, has scored many firsts in China where competition is really high in the auto sector.
According to Jetour’s representative in Nigeria, Jetour Mobility Services, “Jetour Automobile is a new brand launched by Chery Holdings in response to the market trend and consumer demand.
Jetour says its focus is to be a leader in mobility as well as provide reasonable travel solutions for individuals and families.
It has set a goal of providing an excellent vehicles that demonstrate individuality for today’s young people.

Business

Stakeholders seek Islamic financing for primary healthcare

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2023

Trends Admin

Stakeholders seek Islamic financing for primary healthcare

Finance and healthcare experts have called for the utilisation of Islamic financing as an alternative funding source for primary healthcare in Nigeria.

They made the call yesterday in Abuja during a one-day international summit organised by the Africa Islamic Economic Foundation and the Duke Logistics and Consult Limited with the support of the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC).

The summit brought together, participants from the Islamic Development Bank, academics, the business community and technology firms on telemedicine, among others.

It was themed ‘Harnessing Innovative Sources of Financing Primary Healthcare Infrastructural Development in Nigeria.’