‘Beyond insecurity, entrepreneurs must see investment opportunities along Warri-Itakpe railway corridor’

Calls have been intensified for entrepreneurs and investors to look beyond the present security challenge in Abraka town, Delta State, and see the investment and business opportunities along the Warri-Itakpe railway corridor, to boost the nation’s economy.

The latest call came from Mark Adamu, a Senior Citizen of Nigeria and Railway Consultant with the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

The call was made amidst the temporary shut down of Abraka Railway Station in the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor by the management of the NRC. Abraka Station is one of the key stops on the corridor which has gained popularity for providing relatively safe and efficient travel between Delta, Edo and Kogi states.

The train station was recently shut down temporarily following a violent clash between the indigenes of the town and Fulani herdesmen. The situation rose to a critical stage whereby students of Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka took to the streets, protesting against kidnapping and violent crimes in the town, a development that drew the attention of security operatives.

The police division in the area with the support of vigilance group and local hunters engaged the suspected kidnappers in a gun duel which led to death of a gang leader and three other abductors. The killing was said to have resulted in a reprisal attack that led to the death of unconfirmed number of persons including security operatives.

Reports had it that the crisis began to take ethnic colouration and this led to the NRC shutting down the Abraka Train Station, announcing that train would stop at other stations but would not stop at Abraka Station till further notice.

Sanni Ganiyu, an engineer and coordinator, Warri-Itakpe Train Service, told BusinessDay Sunday, that the reason for the shutdown was to ensure the safety of the staff of the service and that of the passengers. He said that operations would commence as soon as the security situation improves.

He regretted the inconveniences the temporary shutdown of operations would cause or may have caused the passengers.

Adding his voice, Mark Adamu, the Railway Consultant, said that the shutdown was also in the interest of the passengers as they would not like a situation where any passenger would be killed as a result of the mayhem that has claimed lives in the recent times.

“You and I can testify to all the contents in the social media on what is going on between the Abokis and the indigenes and we wouldn’t want that when train is dropping people at Abraka they would be attacked. Government would blame us for not stopping it,” he said.

He expressed the hope that in the next one or two weeks, the ugly situation would have completely been put under control just as he expressed pains over the suffering of the masses who on daily basis make use of the train services.

Beyond the insecurity

Adamu has however, called on investors to look beyond insecurity as he revealed that the investment opportunities on Warri-Itakpe train corridor were huge. He wooed investors and entrepreneurs to bring their investments to the area just as he appealed to the Federal Government to address the issue of security in the country.

Investment opportunities

Adamu highlighted that the rail line has vast potential to drive economic growth in the Niger Delta region.

“Such vast areas include logistics and transportation services, hospitality and amenities for travelers, freight and cargo handling.

“Others are employment opportunities in construction, operations, and management, potential for industrial development along the rail corridor, and tourism and cultural exchange opportunities etc,” he said.

According to him, the proximity to Warri Port and production companies adds to the attractiveness of the location for businesses.

“With the expected volume of passengers and freight, there’s indeed a wide range of opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors,” he added.

Insecurity not only common to Abraka

Adamu said, “This issue of insecurity is not only common to Abraka. Insecurity is a huge challenge confronting our great country Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria has not been able to proffer perfect and permanent solution to end this challenge. It is not because they don’t have the capacity to end it. This is a serious issue that has the ability to destroy the existence of our country.

“The Military Generals serving have the ability to end this insecurity within 48 hours but they won’t do it because of their selfish interests and ambitions.

“I want you to note that despite the insecurity situations in the North, we have local and international investors in the midst of that war zone investing heavily and taking away proceeds from Nigeria to their countries under a careful watch of selected high profile security personnel in this nation.

“The insecurity is a light affliction but it’s for a moment. We should look beyond that and see Nigeria as a great country. I can see Nigeria rising to the occasion to take her rightful position in commity of organised nations.”

Particularly on Abraka, Adamu urged sincere investors to push forward and invest in the corridor because the insecurity challenge is subject to change.

“Investors should not consider the insecurity as a permanent stumbling block to their vision on transforming the economy of the country. They should have short term and long term plans that will enhance the growth of their investments. I can guarantee them Return On Investment (ROI) if they make effort to invest.”

What FG should do

“On the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I advise that sincere and genuine efforts should be in place to end the insecurity,” said the Consultant.

According to him, “They should overhaul the Military architecture and do a proper reshuffle of the General Commanding Officers (GOCs). The FG should also support the foot soldiers who are ready to go to the battle front.

“I appeal to Mr President to carefully, sincerely and actively look into the insecurity situation and end this madness on our great Nation. I recommend that the present leaders of the military should go, and you take a look at the affairs of upcoming officers that are not corrupt or biased in service delivery for the country – officers that are not into tribalism, officers that love the oneness of Nigeria without them thinking of funding the evil of terror as some of the current military leaders are doing; younger officers that don’t have demonic ambitions of taking the innocent lives of Citizens of Nigeria.”

Adamu also recommended that community vigilantes be encouraged and well paid to guard every nook and cranny of their communities, including their forests and investments.

He concluded by recommending that community policing be encouraged. They should be fully funded and supported by the government and the Nigerian Police.