South Africa’s Grindrod Limited Group has provided US$500mn for the first phase of Zambia’s North West Rail
Rail
Nigeria to privatise transport sector
The Nigerian government has announced its plans to privatise eight of the country’s industries, including railways, inland waterways, roads and ports, by 2015
Officials from the government revealed that eight sectors had been shortlisted for privatisation such as railways, inland waterways, road authority, roads funds, National Transport Commission, ports and harbours, federal competition and consumer protection and postal services.
Benjamin Dikki, director general of the Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), said, “The government is riding on the success story of the previously privatised public enterprises such as banking, power, telecom, marine and steel sectors.”
Dikki said while the banking sector is the most developed in Nigeria, the telecom sector’s reform has been the most successful thus far. Nigeria’s tele density has increased from 450,000 telephone lines in 2001 to 135.5mn in 2014, he added.
To sustain growth and development, Dikki added that privatisation is essential. In addition to the eight sectors that have been chosen for privatisation, the BPE is working with sectors such as sports, tourism, health and housing to review legal and regulatory policies.
China to construct US$12bn railway line in Nigeria
China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) has signed a deal worth US$12bn with Nigeria to construct a West African coastal railway
ABB to supply engineering equipment for Ethiopian railway project
ABB has been awarded a bid to supply traction sub-stations and auxiliary power supply for a newly developed railway line in Ethiopia for US$16mn
Tanzania signs MoU with US firm to develop railway service in Dar es Salaam
Tanzania’s Ministry of Transport and US-based Shumake Railway have signed an MoU to establish a railway service from Dar es Salaam’s central business district to the city’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA)