Lagos – The Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) on Saturday resumed its Cattle Cargo Services, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER reports.
Mr Jerry Oche, Lagos Railway District Manager (RDM), NRC, told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that 510 cattle were moved from Gusau in Zamfra to Lagos.
The NIGERIAN OBSERVER also reports that cattle traffic refers to the transportation of cattle via rail, especially from the Northern part of Nigeria to the South.
Oche said: “Today, we are happy by the resumption of our cattle cargo services after such a long time.
“We moved 510 cattle from Gusau in Zamfra to Lagos; and hope to do two or three trips weekly.”
Mr Edeme Kelikume, Managing Director, Connect Raul Service, told The NIGERIAN OBSERVER that moving cattle by rail over such a long distance was faster, cheaper and safer.
“The cattle traffic started by 3a.m Friday and before 4p.m Saturday they will be in Okooba in Agege area of Lagos.
“90 of the cattle have been dropped at Abeokuta and 420 would be received in Lagos.
“Transporting animals by rail ensures they are protected from the exposure to sun or rain as would have been the case if they were moved by trucks.
“We have two veterinary doctors on board and enough food and water for the animals,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) says train carrying about 500 cows which left Gusau on Thursday arrived Oko-Oba, Lagos on Saturday hours ahead of schedule.
This information is contained in a statement issued by the organisation’s Coordinator, Research and Strategy, Mr Bello Abba, on Saturday in Abuja.
The statement quoted the Managing Director, Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed as describing it as a pleasant surprise.
According to him, it is a good omen for the innovative project of moving cattle from the North to the South by rail.
“We are indeed happy to hear that the wagons had arrived ahead of schedule.
“We are very delighted that the historic train has arrived earlier than projected.
“It is a source of encouragement as we strive towards improving and deepening our Farm to Market Scheme,” he said.
NIRSAL, two days ago in Gusau, launched the commencement of its National Farm to Market Scheme.
The scheme aims to provide low cost transport link between agricultural producers and consumers across the country with an initial focus on livestock movement from North to South by rail.
Under the scheme, NIRSAL has a mandate to de-risk and incentivize investment into verified impactful projects across the agricultural value chain.
It will provide bank guarantees for the financing of critical requirements involved in the movement of the cattle including logistics and equipment.
Connect Rail Services Ltd., a bulk freight and logistics service provider is the first technical partner on this aspect of the Farm to Market scheme.
