The Impact Of National Transportation Policy On The Nigerian Railway Corporation From 1960 To The 1990s

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Andrew Buyengum Jackson , Associate Professor Muhammad Hasrul Zakariah

Abstract

This study examines the impact of Nigerian transport policy on the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). Developing an efficient, flexible, and dynamic transportation system is vital for meaningful socio-economic development and binding together the various parts of society. It also provides instruments for enhancing human interaction, blending culture and traditions, and integrating socio-political entities in a socio-political context. The study covered the period from independence in 1960 to the 1990s and argued that aside from corruption, and inadequate funding, among others, government policy favouring other modes of transport have attributed to the NRC’s collapse. Data from primary and secondary sources were used in the study, employing the qualitative approach to historical analysis. National Development Plans, 1962-1992, clearly revealed that the railway got a bantam allocation compared to funds spent on other transportation modes. The impact of this lopsided allocation of resources against the railway led to its marginal contribution to the transport sector in Nigeria. The railway in the country during the period covered by this study was in shambles providing less than 30 percent of its expected capacity. The impact of the collapse was conspicuous in the poor state of railway facilities, poor staff remuneration and welfare, and the fall in revenue for the government. It is the study’s goal to provoke change in the government’s policy in the transport sector.

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