Expand rail networks to ease supply chain logistics – Don tells governments

The Dean, School of Transport and Logistics, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Charles Asenime, on Friday, appealed to the federal and state governments to expand rail networks to ease supply chain logistics.

Asenime made the appeal at the closing of a three-day summit organised by the Center for Applied Research and Innovation in Supply Chain Africa (CARISCA) at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.

our correspondent reports that the summit had the theme: “Reimagining Africa’s Supply Chains for a Sustainable Future”.

Asenime said: “What we have on ground as our transport resources to support logistics is very low, and that is why logistics is difficult, especially road logistics and that of inland waterways.

“We are hoping that as we leave here, we will be able to make communications to expand our rail networks,” he said.

The dean, who said some states did not require airports, added that the rail system could have been better for transport logistics.

“The money they spend building the airports can build rail tracks to connect to the federal rail system.

“This can bring whatever they want from Abuja or anywhere to any place.

“If you go to Delta, for instance, there are airports in Asaba and Osubi.

“Asaba to Osubi is about less than 150km; then from Osubi Airport to Benin Airport is about 100km.

“Within the circuit of 230km, you have three airports that are not viable,” he said.

An Associate Professor at the School of Transport and Logistics, LASU, Dr Ogochukwu Ugboma, emphasised the need to train professionals in the logistics field.

She said the training would address the myriads of challenges faced in the transport aad logistics sector.

“You heard from the presentations the difficulties in moving goods from one African country to another.

“These are challenges that need government interventions, and these interventions can come in form of incentives, infrastructure development, having linkages, and integration of infrastructure.

“If we have our rail lines working and have these rail lines integrated with the ports, we do not need to see trucks on the roads, and lives will not be taken away because of bad trucks,” she said.

She said that the academia would play its part by ensuring that students would get better understanding of the field.

Dr Ibrahim Forson, Head of Department of Logistics and Supply Chain, School of Transport and Logistics, LASU, said that CARISCA 2025 was impactful as it touched many areas.

“The summit was on supply chain. We had some health commissioners, and procurement of drugs was looked at.

“There were presentations from the academia.

“We had people from Kenya, Ethiopia and Ghana, among others countries,” he said.