Why N/South rail movement of cattle was suspended

More facts have emerged on the suspension of cattle movement by train from the North to the southern part of Nigeria.

Investigations conducted by Daily Trust indicated that the cattle movement launched September last year was suspended following what a source called a minor disagreement between the cattle dealers and other stakeholders.

Cattle dealers in Gusau, Zamfara where the project was launched had accused stakeholders of not being sincere with the project. Although the chairman of Cattle Dealers’ Association in Zamfara, Alhaji Aminu Garba Gusau was not categorical about his accusation, findings by our correspondent in Lagos showed that the cattle dealers are uncomfortable that the train is loaded with other goods apart from cattle and they want wagons dedicated to movement of cattle which the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says might not be economical owing to limited capacity.

Besides, the corporation which is spearheading the project says the cattle dealers have not communicated with it neither did they book for wagons as required of them.

Director of Operations of the NRC, Mr. Niyi Ali who spoke with Daily Trust, said the statement credited to the cattle dealers that the organizers and stakeholders were insincere was vague.

He said it was not that trains had not been going to that axis but there had not been any form of booking by the cattle dealers.

Ali said, “Who are they talking to in NRC? They are not talking to us. We have a booking procedure. So what the NRC normally does is if they book the wagon, we would look for traffic going towards that direction. Once the traffic has gone to that direction, then they are not going to come back empty.

“I don’t know what they are saying because they are not talking to us. But how can you dedicate wagons to cattle alone? The cattle is not going up and down. If they were bringing cattle from Gusau and back to Gusau, then it is understandable. But all they want is for us to bring the cattle to Lagos. When those wagons, once they carry cattle to Lagos, they must carry something back up. You don’t do return empty because it is not economical. My own argument is that they are making accusation, then they should come and justify it because I really don’t understand.”

Also speaking with Daily Trust, the Chief Executive Officer of Connect Rail Service (CRS), one of the logistic companies involved in the project, Mr. Edeme Kelikume confirmed the project was temporarily suspended because of certain challenges.

However, he said efforts were ongoing to resolve the challenges and bring back the services.