http://www.riversmonorail.com/about/
http://www.riversmonorail.com/2010/07/work-begins-on-rivers-monorail-site/

for all you techyy people.these are the 'specs'.....we hope its realistic and do able...and we hope it doesnt go the way of the ring road

Great update Merem :)

http://i34.************/o73eid.jpg

Images From the Rivers Monorail Groundbreaking Ceremony

http://i35.************/15ob6fa.jpg

http://i38.************/huei5k.jpg

http://i38.************/52nf4w.jpg

Work Begins on Rivers Monorail Site

On July 21st, 2010, foundation laying for the Rivers Monorail began at UTC Bus Stop, Port Harcourt.

The piling process was marked as a momentous occasion signifying as it does the beginning in earnest of one of possibly the most important and relevant constructions that has ever been embarked upon in the State, the country and even in Africa.

The occasion was marked by the presence of representatives from the State Government, The Rivers Monorail Company, Senior Partners TSI Investments and Holdings and Technical Partners Intamin/Ponet.

The Rivers Monorail Project is a Public Private Partnership embarked upon by the Rivers State Government and TSI Investments and Holdings. The project is expected to take an estimated two years.

See below for images from the event.

http://i34.************/ket79w.jpg

http://i35.************/xns2kg.jpg

http://i33.************/baezc.jpg

http://i38.************/118fyhg.jpg

http://i37.************/23wlcvt.jpg

http://i36.************/243n446.jpg

http://i35.************/2dwcepc.jpg

http://i33.************/30crv4k.jpg

http://i38.************/35lalo5.jpg

http://i34.************/281bfjo.jpg

About The Project

http://i36.************/zm1eup.jpg

The Rivers Monorail will be using the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train especially designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities.

It is the most recent model of its kind and characterized by modern design, spacious cabins and is equipped with large size door openings for easy access for passengers with luggage.

The visual impact of the train, the track beam (which it rides on) and the supporting columns will be minimal and an appropriate color will be chosen to help integrate the system into the environment.

System Statistics

- Maximum achievable transport capacity 1,300 pph/direction

- Average interval of train is approximately 12/24 mins

- Maximum Speed 70km/hr

- Track Length 19.1 km

- Total passengers per train (standard Capacity) 158

- Total passengers per train (peak capacity) 210

- Operating Brakes are electrical regenerative brakes

- Holding breaks are mechanical brakes

- Emergency brake are mechanical brakes (fail safe design)

- Overall Route Track Length – 19.1Km

- Overall No. of Columns – 1473

- Stations – 14

- Train Sets – 5

- Coaches per Train – 6

- Passengers per Train – 210

- Passengers per hr per direction – 1300

The Rivers Monorail Beam System

http://i37.************/2chos61.jpg

The Monorail Beam is elevated, supported by columns which in turn are supported by a foundation. The foundation will be properly sized to take all loads applied from the column to the foundation.

The foundation and the beam structure shall be designed to a minimum life time of 50 years. The foundation shall be designed and built to withstand the local climate conditions at Port Harcourt including flood, thunderstorm, heavy rain, etc.

Building the Rivers Monorail:
The Phase System

Statistics of Surveyed Route

•Overall Route Track Length – 19.1Km
•Overall No. of Columns – 1473
•Stations – 20

•Train Sets – 5
•Coaches per Train – 6
•Passengers per Train – 210
•Passengers per hr per direction – 1300

Phases:

The Surveyed Route will be implemented in phases while other routes are being surveyed.

Planned implementation has been divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Phase 1 will act as a Pilot Scheme that will enable people to gain confidence in the project. The other benefits of Phase 1 are:

•Provides opportunity to assess real impact on traffic and adjust plans as necessary.
•Allows for time to raise necessary funds.
•Phase 1 will be something tangible that potential investors and lenders can build their confidence on.

Phase 1:

•Two Trains
•Five Stations
•Transfer Length 6.4 km

Route 1:

Aggrey road (UPTH Junction) – Sharks Park

Sharks park – Supabod

Supabod – Isaac Boro Park

Isaac Boro Park – Garrison (Aba Road)

Phase 2:

- Five Trains

- Twenty Stations

- Transfer Length 19.1 km

Completed Route:

Aggrey road (UPTH Junction) – Sharks Park

Sharks park – Supaboard

Supaboard – Isaac Boro Park

Isaac Boro Park - Garrison (Aba Rd)

Garrison – Waterlines

Waterlines – GRA Junction (Aba Rd)

GRA Junction (Aba rd) – Rumuola Junction

Ordinance Junction (NEWS) – Elekahia Housing Estate

Rumuola Junction – Airforce Base Junction

Airforce Base Junction – 1st or 2nd Artillery Junction)

1st or 2nd Artillery Junction – Rumukwurushi Junction

Rumukwurushi Junction – Oil Mill Junction

Oil Mill Junction – Eleme Junction

Eleme Junction – Oyigbo

Proposed Stations

http://i38.************/anbm0o.jpg

Several trains will be in operation on the network between Aggrey Rd. and the loop North/East of the Garrison station

Stations

1.UPTH Junction (Aggrey Road)
2.Sharks Stadium Park
3.Supabod
4.Isaac Boro Park
5.Garrison Junction
6.Nkpogu/ Elekahia Junction (Trans Amadi)
7.Mother-Cat Junction (Rainbow)
8.Ordinance Junction (NEWS)
9.Elekahia Estate (Dust bin)
10.Air force Base Junction (Aba Road)
11.Rumuola Junction
12.GRA Junction
13.Water Lines Junction
14.1st or 2nd Artillery Junction
15.Rumukwurushi Junction
16.Oil Mill Junction
17.Eleme Junction
18.Oyigbo

Proposed Major Terminals

1.Sharks Stadium Park (Station Road)
2.Liberation Stadium (Elekahia)
3.Garden Park (Air force Base Junction)

Disclaimer: Plans outlined are projections and are subject to ongoing adjustment to achieve the best and safest quality to serve the city of Port Harcourt.

http://www.riversmonorail.com/about/
http://www.riversmonorail.com/2010/07/work-begins-on-rivers-monorail-site/

for all you techyy people.these are the 'specs'.....we hope its realistic and do able...and we hope it doesnt go the way of the ring road


What happened to ring road?

The Ring Road has been shelved..They are citing increasing cost ($1billion to $2billion)as the reason...looks like hes not been able to get the desired private patnership

Its been shelved...citing increasing cost (from $1bill to $2bill)as the reason...looks like the private patnership end didnt quite work out..

Merem & GAR3TH, Good Job!!

Am glad this one finally took off making it more promising than the one planned for Calabar. However, the life span of 50 years of the project is a good one. I hope the actual monorail system looks just like the one on the plan.

http://www.metrotram.it/matrot/img/intamin-moscow.jpg


Amaechi forks out N11bn for P/H monorail project


Wednesday, 08 September 2010

Work has begun on the Port Harcourt Monorail project introduced by the Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi-led administration in Rivers State. N11 billion has already been released as part of the state government’s equity for the construction of the monorail which is been built under a public private partnership arrangement.

The Rivers’ monorail would be the first of its kind in West Africa.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, Governor Amaechi’s media adviser and publicist Mr David Iyofor, stated that the monorail being developed for mass transportation within the Port Harcourt metropolis would not only decongest the roads in the city, but would also provide a competitive mass transport solution to the city and create job opportunities.

This public private partnership project between the Rivers State government and TSI Holdings Limited has been put at a projected cost of $318 million, with an equity division of 20 per cent to the state government and 80 per cent to TSI Holdings.

Iyofor explained that Governor Amaechi adopted the idea in line with his efforts to decongest traffic in the city and make transportation easily and readily accessible to residents of the State.

He said: “Commuters would surely breathe a sigh of relief at the completion of this project, as it would be reliable in transporting large number of people rapidly and conveniently along special routes aimed at optimal traffic decongestion.

“The first phase of 19.5 km track length is expected to be completed two years from the day of its foundation-laying ceremony performed by President Goodluck Jonathan during his official visit to Rivers State in May.”

The proposed routes for the first phase, according to Iyofor, are “Aggrey Road through Station Road- Azikiwe Road and Aba Road to Water Lines Junction.”

“The proposed kind of train to be used on the Rivers Monorail is the Intamin P30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities as seen in some parts of Europe,” he said.

Rivers Monorail Service Takes Off Next July

Train commuter service under the on-going monorail project of the Rivers State government will commence in July next year. The monorail service is expected to commute about 4,000 persons a day.

The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside dropped the hint in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt.

He said that the Rivers State Monorail Company which has commenced work on the installation of the infrastructure for the project was set up, to isolate the monorail project from government bureaucracy.

According to him, government engaged some of the best professionals on earth in the sector to ensure that the final project delivery will make the state monorail the first of its kind in Nigeria.

When it comes on stream, Peterside said, the monorail service will be aligned with bus stops to ensure synergy in the sector.

The project will also provide added impetus to the development of the state’s rich tourism potentials, he said.

The project, according to the commissioner, will complement existing air, water and road transport infrastructure in the state.

He said government was committed to the realisation of its vision of a Rivers State where all communities where accessible by quality roads, all the year round.

It is this vision, he said, that was driving government in the various projects scattered around the state for which it was being described as “the biggest construction site in Nigeria today”.

The Commissioner praised Governor Amaechi for making a fundamental difference in the infrastructure landscape of the city of Port Harcourt and the entire state.

He spoke of the various challenges in projects implementation, including the environment, soil quality and rainfall but asserted that “in the midst of all these constraints, we have made appreciable impact”.

He announced that contract for the Trans-Kalabari Road will be re-awarded before December this year, in line with the governor’s directive. Already contractors have been short-listed for the award of the job.

The Commissioner regretted that most of the contractors awarded the job initially, were from Kalabari and did not have the capacity to execute it, which led to the termination of the contract.

He said the state government was also inter-facing with the Ministry of Niger Delta with a view to getting the abandoned Bodo-Bonny road project back on course.

The Bodo-Bonny Road is a federal government project abandoned over the years, following disagreement between the contractor the Federal ministry of Works. It has been inherited by the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“We are optimistic that, that project will be back on course, very soon”, the Commissioner said.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/?p=17909

Rivers Monorail Service Takes Off Next July

Train commuter service under the on-going monorail project of the Rivers State government will commence in July next year. The monorail service is expected to commute about 4,000 persons a day.

The State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside dropped the hint in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt.

He said that the Rivers State Monorail Company which has commenced work on the installation of the infrastructure for the project was set up, to isolate the monorail project from government bureaucracy.

According to him, government engaged some of the best professionals on earth in the sector to ensure that the final project delivery will make the state monorail the first of its kind in Nigeria.

When it comes on stream, Peterside said, the monorail service will be aligned with bus stops to ensure synergy in the sector.

The project will also provide added impetus to the development of the state’s rich tourism potentials, he said.

The project, according to the commissioner, will complement existing air, water and road transport infrastructure in the state.

He said government was committed to the realisation of its vision of a Rivers State where all communities where accessible by quality roads, all the year round.

It is this vision, he said, that was driving government in the various projects scattered around the state for which it was being described as “the biggest construction site in Nigeria today”.

The Commissioner praised Governor Amaechi for making a fundamental difference in the infrastructure landscape of the city of Port Harcourt and the entire state.

He spoke of the various challenges in projects implementation, including the environment, soil quality and rainfall but asserted that “in the midst of all these constraints, we have made appreciable impact”.

He announced that contract for the Trans-Kalabari Road will be re-awarded before December this year, in line with the governor’s directive. Already contractors have been short-listed for the award of the job.

The Commissioner regretted that most of the contractors awarded the job initially, were from Kalabari and did not have the capacity to execute it, which led to the termination of the contract.

He said the state government was also inter-facing with the Ministry of Niger Delta with a view to getting the abandoned Bodo-Bonny road project back on course.

The Bodo-Bonny Road is a federal government project abandoned over the years, following disagreement between the contractor the Federal ministry of Works. It has been inherited by the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“We are optimistic that, that project will be back on course, very soon”, the Commissioner said.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/?p=17909


So I am guessing work is ongoing twice as fast as anticipated because the article posted before this one said it would take 2 years from May 2010 to complete the first phase. hmm..oh well.. as long as they do a good job.

NOVEMBER 3rd UPDATE:banana:

Coupling-Column-Formwork

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Coupling-Column-Formwork-1.jpg

Placing-Column-Formwork

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Placing-Column-Formwork.jpg

nstalling-Column-Formwork

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Installing-Column-Formwork1-1.jpg

Column-Reinforcements

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/untitled-13.jpg

Typical-Pile-Cap-and-Column-Starter-Bar-Reinforcement

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Typical-Pile-Cap-and-Column-Starter-Bar-Reinforcement.jpg

Piling-in-Progress

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Piling-in-Progress.jpg

Excavating-for-Pile-Cap-1

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Excavating-for-Pile-Cap-1.jpg

Preparing-for-Column-Formwork-Placement

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Preparing-for-Column-Formwork-Placement.jpg

Pile-Cap-Reinforcement-Column-Starter-Bars-in-Place

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Pile-Cap-Reinforcement-Column-Starter-Bars-in-Place.jpg

Pile-Cap-Reinforcement-Placement

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Pile-Cap-Reinforcement-Placement.jpg

great find gareth.

Here’s an exclusive preview of what the Monorail coaches will look like on the inside

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5236140985_3f868eb853.jpg


The plush blue carpeting, velvety red seats, and large wide windows will not only provide you with an extraordinary view of the city of Port Harcourt, but will also insure that your daily commute takes place in a clean and comfort-filled environment.

The Rivers Monorail….it will change the way you travel

http://www.riversmonorail.com/2010/12/exclusive-sneak-preview-at-the-interior-of-the-port-harcourt-monorail

The Port Harcourt monorail will be using Intamin P30 Monorails...the same type used in the Moscow monorail transportation system.

this is how Port Harcourt's will look based on the Moscow monorails.

Moscow

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Monorail_Moskau_-_Einfahrt_in_Station_Telezentrum.jpg/745px-Monorail_Moskau_-_Einfahrt_in_Station_Telezentrum.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/MoscowTVtower-2009-view07.jpg/800px-MoscowTVtower-2009-view07.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Moscow_Monorail_3.jpg/560px-Moscow_Monorail_3.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Moscow_Monorail_train_Timiryazevskaya.JPG/800px-Moscow_Monorail_train_Timiryazevskaya.JPG

Video of moscow monorail...same design and trams as the rivers project.

9eO26Ia6pxQ

http://i53.************/10wruyx.jpg

Updates for Jan 2011

http://www.riversmonorail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC00192.jpg

http://www.riversmonorail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC001931.jpg

http://www.riversmonorail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC00221-Copy-Copy1.jpg

http://www.riversmonorail.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/DSC00199.jpg

great for rivers state :)

nice...I like the fact that they keep us updated every month.

nice...I like the fact that they keep us updated every month.
Yes Gareth, I wish Lagos Light Railway could do the same by updating keen follower like us of progress monthly. The site they dedicated for it hasn't been updated since 2009.

port harcourt monorail seems to be making progress quite smoothly. i wonder which out of all three (ph, lagos and abuja) train systems will be completed first.

port harcourt monorail seems to be making progress quite smoothly. i wonder which out of all three (ph, lagos and abuja) train systems will be completed first.

Lagos and Abuja are Light Rail Systems, so they may take a bit longer. Maybe this should be compared with Enugu monorail

when is this going got be completed again?
dont tell me to go to page 1 or dont say anything

WORK IN PROGRESS AS AT JANUARY 31, 2011

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/182875_163927510322549_114785075236793_320252_2565777_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/182467_163927776989189_114785075236793_320258_2004484_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/182426_163927670322533_114785075236793_320256_1860229_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/181730_163928403655793_114785075236793_320271_151089_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/167702_163927586989208_114785075236793_320254_2756283_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/180733_163928180322482_114785075236793_320264_3720302_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/180359_163928253655808_114785075236793_320266_2808968_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/180351_163928430322457_114785075236793_320272_3117311_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/168781_163927743655859_114785075236793_320257_5149056_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/168465_163928473655786_114785075236793_320274_2190212_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/168779_163927863655847_114785075236793_320260_2762255_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/181693_163928326989134_114785075236793_320268_82689_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/167525_163928210322479_114785075236793_320265_438016_n.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/11DSCN1763-12.jpg
http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/167700_163928453655788_114785075236793_320273_3615311_n.jpg

it seems as PH is developing fast these past few months and it is more clean....Lagos to me is nice but if they dont start pumping out new projects I see some of the middle (the ppl who count) moving out

^^ Nobody is moving out of Lagos.
That is the city where u can get the greatest returns for your investment, In the whole of ''Niger-Area'' :)#
Isnt Rivers state driven primarily by money from oil revenues....?

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/73731_138850506163583_114785075236793_201226_4593091_n.jpg

http://i54.************/io16on.jpg

http://i52.************/e8kav8.jpg

this is will look lovely when its done..:applause: I can wait for it :banana:

beautiful :D

will this be the first monorail in africa? and what about calabar monorail

will this be the first monorail in africa? and what about calabar monorail

well it will be the first in west Africa

They put a carpet in there? :sly:

Could someone please show where the UTC Bus Stop is on a map? Thanks kindly.

Kim Pedersen
The Monorail Society
http://www.monorails.org

Pictures above show work in Progress at the Monorail Site located along Azikiwe Road

Satellite pictures from 2008
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=utc+port+harcourt&hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=utc&hnear=Port+Harcourt,+Rivers,+Nigeria&ll=4.769549,7.016557&spn=0.002876,0.005284&t=h&z=18

Thank you GAR3TH! I've only seen one map showing the alignment, and that was on a photo of a billboard at the groundbreaking. If anyone knows where there is a map of the first line, that would be terrific.

I have my concerns over this monorail. I wonder if they are building a short train to nowhere, one that is never expanded?

Pictures above show work in Progress at the Monorail Site located along Azikiwe Road

Satellite pictures from 2008
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=utc+port+harcourt&hl=en&ie=UTF8&hq=utc&hnear=Port+Harcourt,+Rivers,+Nigeria&ll=4.769549,7.016557&spn=0.002876,0.005284&t=h&z=18

WORK IN PROGRESS AS AT FEBRUARY 28, 2011 (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rivers-Monorail/114785075236793)From Rivers Monorail Facebook Page

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/194439_169702439745056_114785075236793_349689_2116755_o1.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/192869_169702466411720_114785075236793_349690_3566481_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/193792_169702039745096_114785075236793_349674_4438402_o-Copy.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/193493_169701833078450_114785075236793_349666_2182461_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/193026_169702239745076_114785075236793_349679_7940504_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/192817_169702006411766_114785075236793_349672_6525719_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/192277_169701609745139_114785075236793_349662_3557859_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/191415_169702059745094_114785075236793_349675_7621542_o.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/172426_169701899745110_114785075236793_349668_1979254_o1.jpg

keeps gettin' better. :D

QzWg_y5MdYQ
www.yellowdognigeria.com

please when is it due for completion ..


this is just too good

UTC TO SHARKS PARK AS AT 28TH MARCH, 2011 [Facebook page]

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/188760_174352882613345_114785075236793_373334_7523407_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/190521_174353102613323_114785075236793_373340_119504_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/200360_174353085946658_114785075236793_373339_5144334_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/200691_174353329279967_114785075236793_373349_2149026_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/196020_174352812613352_114785075236793_373331_7581037_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/199993_174352992613334_114785075236793_373338_4707821_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/199727_174353229279977_114785075236793_373345_3886567_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/197312_174352829280017_114785075236793_373332_6880258_n.jpg

edit double post

please when is it due for completion ..


this is just too good

they said operation will start 2012-2013

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/207568_175816272467006_114785075236793_381500_6635887_n.jpg

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/73731_138850506163583_114785075236793_201226_4593091_n.jpg

QzWg_y5MdYQ&feature=related

QzWg_y5MdYQ
www.yellowdognigeria.com

QzWg_y5MdYQ&feature=related

You are late NB

was actually looking for the lagos project when i stumbled on this awesome!!!

Updates came out yesterday.....this gareth's cup of tea....so he can post the updates....

Thanks for the notification
http://www.emoticonswallpapers.com/emotion/tea-cup/tea-cup-smiley-028.gif

UTC BUS STOP TO SHARKS PARK

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227594_182633478451952_114785075236793_418719_235237_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/230770_182633498451950_114785075236793_418720_3370617_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225395_182633508451949_114785075236793_418721_5774269_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/229251_182633581785275_114785075236793_418724_5087807_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227956_182633628451937_114785075236793_418726_5763691_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/227655_182633655118601_114785075236793_418727_2152106_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/226432_182633678451932_114785075236793_418728_4070579_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/231098_182633701785263_114785075236793_418729_6102913_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228373_182633711785262_114785075236793_418730_192725_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/231088_182633735118593_114785075236793_418731_5536439_n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223454_182633758451924_114785075236793_418732_7256089_n.jpg

SINGLE COLUMN DOUBLE TRACK PULVINA SPLITTING INTO SINGLE SIDE-BY-SIDE COLUMNS

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224157_182633775118589_114785075236793_418733_3693067_n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228199_182633785118588_114785075236793_418734_798295_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225424_182633818451918_114785075236793_418735_5167415_n.jpg

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225089_182633838451916_114785075236793_418736_4746139_n.jpg

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222171_182633861785247_114785075236793_418737_7579757_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/227353_182633888451911_114785075236793_418738_2601436_n.jpg

http://www.cmdhd.org/images/iconJoinFacebook.png (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rivers-Monorail/114785075236793?ref=ts)

Courtesy of Megastar Technical & Construction Company Limited Nigeria

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/Untitled-36.jpg

^^ They should have done most of the work in the drier perods from October to May.
Look at those ominous looking clouds hanging in the sky..... Same for Eko Atlantic

Rivers’ll take delivery of new trains soon – Commissioner

The Rivers State government has said that brand new trains will be arriving in the country soon from Switzerland. The trains are for the state’s mass transit project.

Transport Commissioner, Mr. George Tolofari, who made this known, said more rail tracks and other equipment for the state’s multi-billion naira monorail project have arrived Port Harcourt, the state capital. “The trains, which are being built in Switzerland will arrive in Nigeria soon!, he said. The commissioner, who was speaking at Onne Port, while inspecting the equipment, accordingly appealed to those who are skeptical about the mass transit project, to be patient with government.

He said as soon as the facilities were cleared by the customs, they will be transferred to the built warehouse located in Trans-Amadi, the industrial hub of the state in Port Harcourt. Tolofari said part of the delay in the early completion of the monorail project was the heavy rains in the state. The project, which has so far gulped N11bn, according to the commissioner, is to be powered by independent power supply. He claimed that the epileptic power supply from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) will not affect the project, adding that those who feel that the monorail will result in the demolition of their houses have no cause to worry.

“Government has done a survey of the routes and discovered that only few houses will be affected”, the transport commissioner said, pointing out that adequate compensation will be paid for such houses. Governor Chibuike Amaechi, has already given those affected seven days notice to vacate the marked houses before the bulldozers start to roll in to reduce them to rubbles.

The houses are at Azikiwe Road, Port Harcourt. Before now, there have been fears of massive demolition as a result of the monorail project. The fears according to Tolofari, were unfounded. He said the first phase of the project will be completed before December next year. “The arrival of these equipment is evidence that the monorail is not an abandoned project as being touted by some uninformed people”, the commissioner said.


http://nationalmirroronline.net/news/21005.html

The Monorail Society has pictures and a story on the first P30 train...

http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/News.html

http://www.monorails.org/webpix%202/NigeriaRiversTrain2.jpg

Looking good

^^
First Intamin P30 on way to Nigeria

http://www.monorails.org/webpix%203/150IntaminP30.jpg

(10/19/11)
Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Intamin's all-new P30 monorail train has been completed and is currently on its way to the Rivers Monorail construction site in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The P30 has been designed to increase passenger capacity in a state-of-the-art lightweight car body, operate with a higher top speed and meet ever-increasing industry standards for safety and sustainability. The P30 has an advanced suspension and guidance system which Intamin says will reduce noise and vibration to achieve higher ride quality. The propulsion system allows for speeds up to 80 km/h, which matches the speed capability of the majority of the world's straddle and suspended monorails. Shorter headways are expected when the P30 is paired with the ATGS-P30 automatic train guiding system. The Rivers Monorail is slated to open its first phase line in October of 2012.

So, basically, still a year left till full operation commences.

Wow...Nice find guys :okay:

the trains looks nice and very modern. can't wait till it starts operating.

Wow...Nice find guys :okay:

Thanks GAR3TH. I wrote it, posted it, linked it, then some copy/pasted it here (without credit to TMS).

Kim
The Monorail Society (TMS)

:lol: of course u posted the first article, and credited
the website already. :)

This thing is beautiful. Got me salivating

80k top speed is ideal, Most commuter trains here in Brisbane aren't that much faster.

Thanks GAR3TH. I wrote it, posted it, linked it, then some copy/pasted it here (without credit to TMS).

Kim
The Monorail Society (TMS)

Get us more pictures!

thanks

beter than the lagos light rail, but Fashola said on a tv interview dat new trains could take 6 years 2 build dats was one of the reason they opted for fairly used, but the design speed for for the lagos light rail is 120km/hr, nobody shud try 2 argue coz i once worked wit the company handlin the project.

It's not better than the Lagos Light Rail.

It is nowhere near as extensive.

It's not better than the Lagos Light Rail.

It is nowhere near as extensive.

Here we go again with your big mouth! Lagos this Lagos that and you are not even from lagos.:ohno::bash: Does Lagos have a mono or light rail in place yet or are you still gloating over computer rendering?

Here we go again with your big mouth! Lagos this Lagos that and you are not even from lagos.:ohno::bash: Does Lagos have a mono or light rail in place yet or are you still gloating over computer rendering?

:nuts::nuts::nuts:

makes fashola's trains look like cardboard boxes

Fashola's trains have a top speed of 100/120Km and will be able to carry 300 passengers in 12 car trains over hundreds of kilometres ultimately. This is a system moving 300,000 passengers per day.

This is system a with trains reaching top speeds of 70km carrying 210 passengers in 5 car trains over 25 Kilometres. THis system will be moving 4000 passengers per day.

when you consider the scope of the Lagos Light Rail you begin to see that it is different project entirely

The Lagos Light rail goes as far as Ogun state, what we have here is a intra city monorail.

I am not saying.........either of them is better I am just saying you cannot compare them.

^^ Nice analysis.

Wow sounds nice is it a metro or what ?

Here we go again with your big mouth! Lagos this Lagos that and you are not even from lagos.:ohno::bash: Does Lagos have a mono or light rail in place yet or are you still gloating over computer rendering?

Look at this idiot

the lagos light rail project is far bigger, sophisticated and expensive dan its port. H counterpart. there is no reason for the argument, dats y we are on the internet, do your research, nd the lagos project is in advanced stage nd has gone far far far beyond computer renderings, if not even faster than the port harcourt project

i only meant the train looked better as they were new trains as against the fairly used eko trains

I love this. Pls fashola hurry up and match it oh. I like the fact that the topic of discussion has now shifted to who's building the better infrastructure rather than who's the less of two evils.:banana:

The Rivers Monorail is the first of its kind in West Africa. The project is being done under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the Rivers State Government and TSI Holdings Limited. Projected cost for the project is $318 million. The Monorail requires less land space for construction. It is similar to Flyovers, aimed at road traffic decongestion, providing the people another transport option to easy movement within the State Capital, Port Harcourt.

The trains proposed to be used on this monorail are of modern design one of which is the IntaminP30 Monorail Train, an electric driven train specially designed and most suitable for commuter services in cities.

The Intamin P30 is the most recent model of its kind, designed with spacious cabins and is equipped with large size door openings for easy access for passengers particularly those with luggage.

The monorail train has a maximum carrying capacity of 330 passengers per direction, 5 passengers per cabin. It will reduce Traffic on the roads.

Maximum Speed is 70km/hr. It is fast and effective in transporting large number of people through a route at a time.

Operating Brakes are electrical regenerative brakes. Holding breaks are mechanical brakes.

The Monorail Beam is elevated, supported by columns which in turn are supported by a foundation. The foundation will be properly sized to take all loads applied from the column to the foundation.

The foundation and the beam structure is being designed to a minimum life time of 50 years; and the foundation built to withstand the local climate conditions in Port Harcourt. The monorails are derailment proof. They are built to be wrapped around the rail that they ride on.

The monorail will add to the aesthetic view of Port Harcourt and would be a tourist attraction. Its structure augments metropolitan skylines and would provide a panoramic view of the city when riding on it.

Route track length for the first phase is 19.5kms. The proposed routes for the first phase are Aggrey road through Station road- Azikiwe road- Aba road to Water lines junction. This route would have double tracks from station road to Waterlines junction on Aba road and a single track loop at UTC junction through Ikwere road to UST roundabout- Abuja by-pass- Olu Obasanjo road to Waterlines junction on Aba road. This route is referred to as the Eastern Route.

http://184.172.202.202/~govriv/source/?programs=the-rivers-monorail

Not sure when pics were taken

https://topgov-media.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/photos/Image0215_large_thumbnail.jpg

https://topgov-media.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/photos/Image0230_large_thumbnail.jpg

https://topgov-media.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/photos/Image0232_large_thumbnail.jpg

fixed

Folks, Any more new on this and how construction is going and projected completion dates? I would expect that one phase should have been completed by now.

^^ here we fucking go again
People like you annoy me

Please DON'T ASK FOR updates
Updates are automatically posted as soon as any member has them , no need to ask for them

If I was a mod, I. Would warn anybody if you ask for updates that's an infraction BECAUSE THAT'S trolling , like I said they are posted once any member has them

Please don't do that again next time :bash:

And how does it affect you, mr Mod wannabe??? :nuts:

^^ here we fucking go again
People like you annoy me

Please DON'T ASK FOR updates
Updates are automatically posted as soon as any member has them , no need to ask for them

If I was a mod, I. Would warn anybody if you ask for updates that's an infraction BECAUSE THAT'S trolling , like I said they are posted once any member has them

Please don't do that again next time :bash:

And who precisely are you? Was the question posed for you to answer?

Naijaborn, thanks and don't mind the thing.

^^ yes the question was meant for me as long as I am a member of this site as you can see I have more posts than you and contribute more to this forum than you

Hey let's not fight I don't like fighting with poeple just that I don't like It when people ask for updates because people post them automatically when they have them

Ask naijaborn, he doesn't wait for people to ask to post updates before he do,once he has them he does that automatically, no need to ask...

I hope you understand my point, am a very nice person I don't want to start fights or insults :)

i have more post than you so i guess it was ment for me :)

^^ here we fucking go again
People like you annoy me

Please DON'T ASK FOR updates
Updates are automatically posted as soon as any member has them , no need to ask for them

If I was a mod, I. Would warn anybody if you ask for updates that's an infraction BECAUSE THAT'S trolling , like I said they are posted once any member has them

Please don't do that again next time :bash:

The jerk store called.
They're running out of you!! :lol:

Monorail: Riding a storm of controversy in Rivers State

Since the Rivers State government under Governor Rotimi Amaechi decided to embark on the journey of building a monorail valued at $318 million to the landscape and skyline of Port Harcourt, controversy had always dogged the project.

While a lot of people in the state have openly criticised the government for ignoring priorities and expert opinion to embark on what many describe as a wasteful white elephant project, the administration has consistently said that the venture is aimed at decongesting Port Harcourt city, as well as create alternative transit option for residents.

During the governor’s 2012 budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2011, some House members expressed their views that the mono rail project should not be a priority of the state government in the light of funds limitations and other more important and pressing infrastructure demands.

In fact, the Port Harcourt based Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, described the mono rail project as product of lack of planning and a symbol of several capital expenditures embarked on by the government without recourse to future impact nor implication.

“Majority of Rivers citizens or those who live in the state, if consulted, will not favour a Monorail project for easing of transportation difficulties in the state. But the dead monuments (monorail) at huge cost on Azikiwe Road, has remained a personal ego-trip for the government. A futureless waste that the people can do without”, Mr. Anyakwee Nsirimovu, executive director of the institute said.

However, Governor Amaechi, while responding to criticism about the project and allegations that he ignored expert opinion, insisted that while they suggested the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), the state tried it and found out that it did not work, so the administration came with something different, hence the mono rail.

“It is not that the experts criticized the monorail, the report was that the best form of transportation was the bus rapid system; but we have tried it and it failed. It didn’t work because of traffic, so we needed to create something else that can move people independent of the roads”.

But observation of the Lagos BRT arrangement and the failed Rivers State involvement shows that the state did not plan for a BRT system and that is why the effort, which does even qualified to be called BRT failed.

For instance, in Lagos, the BRT system is working because the government planned for it apparently, and delineated special lanes for the buses on several routes, so that impediments of traffic jams will not affect operations of the buses. This has made some vehicle owners to choose to ride the buses to and from work, thus reducing the number of vehicles on the roads. But in Rivers State, the government simply facilitated the provision of several mass transit buses to ply the roads in Port Harcourt that is notorious for traffic jams. That obviously is not BRT.

In the beginning, the Amaechi administration said the Monorail project was a Public Private Partnership,PPP, between the state and TSI Property and Investments Holdings Limited, which is owned by Brigadier-General Anthony Ukpo (rtd), former military governor of the state, who was supposed to provide 80 percent of the funds needed to drive the project, while the state government is to provide the remaining 20 percent.

The agreement signed by both parties on October 13, 2009, indicated that the TSI will manage the train system on completion.

According to promoters of the project, the Monorail system is envisaged to move large number of people at any given time safely and quickly; create jobs for members of the community and business opportunities in the form of spaces for commerce at the Monorail terminals.

However, since 2009 when the agreement was signed, and until when President Goodluck Jonathan officially inaugurated the first phase of the project during his visit to the state in May 2011, TSI have not made any move to live up to its own financial obligation to the bargain.

The first phase of the project, which will cover 19.5 km-long, will run from Station Road to Waterlines area on Aba Road and the governor promised it will be completed two years from the day of the foundation laying ceremony in May 2011.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has released N11 billion as part of its 20 percent financial obligation in the arrangement, and the supposed partners which is to provide 80 percent of the funding is still struggling to source for the funds. In fact, TSI has quietly and systematically disappeared from the Monorail picture of the state, despite being responsible for proposing the idea to the governor, according to competent Government House sources.

The shrouded picture of the arrangement between the government and TSI Holdings, has sent tongues wagging while raising questions as to whether it was hoodwinked into getting involved in the project, and whether it can come out openly to admit that it has been fooled? Did the government do any due diligence on capability of the firm to ascertain its ability to fund such a massive project; and did they have the pedigree of managing such transport infrastructure or any other business from green field to profitability and sustainability? And then why did the firm suddenly drop the project like hot potatoes on laps of the administration?

The state government is now forced to bear the huge financial weight of a project many in the state now see as a journey in ego-trip. However, the government still has the option of cutting the state’s losses and extricating itself from the quagmire.

Considering the massive financial outlay which the project demands and minimal impact on the transportation situation with some observers said the 19.5 km is supposed to cover, it is doubtful as to whether it would be enough to decongest Port Harcourt City and alleviate the transport difficulties currently plaguing the city. Today, the wisdom of government continuing with the project after its supposed private sector partner has jumped ship has been called to question.

At a time last year, the snail pace of work on the monorail project, coupled with unabated criticisms that trailed it, people started wondering whether the state government was doing a rethink that would eventually rest the controversial project.

However in September of last year, the governor dismissed critics of the monorail, insisting that it is still feasible even when never mentioned the increasingly obvious fact that the supposed private sector partners who were to bear the 80 percent financial burden has distanced itself from the arrangement.

The governor also insisted that the work is on course despite going being slow, explaining that the construction process was responsible for the snail pace in view of the highly technical and delicate nature of the project.

“The monorail is under construction, but some people are bent on criticising us. Even though they see people working, they still say it’s been abandoned. It takes one month to build three of those columns. The construction is very slow and that is because, they want to avoid making mistakes; it is a very technical thing,” the governor explained.

He also used that forum to once again assure the people that the project is not a waste of public funds, promising that they will eventually smile as it comes to fruition.

The governor reiterated that the project was conceived to address the increasing transportation problems in the city of Port Harcourt. And in apparent response to allegations of ignoring expert opinion to shun such a project, he said that the technical report was never against the monorail, but rather against the ground rail system.

Last month, at a budget breakdown forum, Mr. Charles Gogo, the state commissioner of budget and economic development, drew laughter when he sought to convince the media on the feasibility or otherwise of the monorail project when he said, tonguein- cheek, that even if all other reasons adduced do not sell the project, the fact that it would be a tourist attraction to the state should suffice.

Despite shrill voices in opposition to the rail project, there are still a minority who still stand with the administration on this issue. Amongst them is Prince Tonye Princewill, former governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, who decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and has become an influential voice in the ruling party.

Recently, he came out courageously to express faith in the viability of the project even as he insisted that it is not a white elephant project doomed to fail.

He said the project is worthwhile, achievable and sustainable in the long run. However, he pointed out that for the controversial mono rail project to become story of success, the Amaechi administration must walk the talk by marching its preference to go against the tide of public opinion with the necessary political will.

The Monorail project, birthed in controversy and wallowing in controversy, is poised to continue generating controversy, even if it is completed before expiration of tenure of the present administration. But it appears the government is condemned to completing it because as Nsimovu noted, no successor, whether handpicked or the people’s choice will want to identify with the monorail project.

“Yet, it is becoming very clear that some of the unplanned projects that the government has embarked upon will remain only white elephants, when it draws its curtain shortly. It is absolutely uncertain that even known successors would want to toe and complete such projects, even if forced to swear before a higher juju, than those of Anambra State’s Okija Shrine”, the executive director of the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law said.

http://nationalmirroronline.net/features/38012.html

Believe this is an old picture, no word of new construction

http://i1017.photobucket.com/albums/af298/ONLY1GAR3TH/aerial-view-of-azikiwe-road-showing-monorail-tracks-2.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8162576429_160d41c399.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7272/8162609372_7be54fb47a.jpg


http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8162609024_edc93cf9ce.jpg

Nice Pics. Its been a while since we heard of this project.

New rendering from Intamin

http://i45.************/2wcmyrm.jpg

Larger photos of Rivers Monorail construction can be seen at:

http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/CnstRivers01.html

Thanks Mrmonorail. :cheers2:

Larger photos of Rivers Monorail construction can be seen at:

http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/CnstRivers01.html

Very interesting!!

but I am no longer going to praise infrastructural work in the South South. They earn 3-7 times more revenue than the South West per capita and 3-6 times more revenue than the South East

Lagos is the most impressive state in Nigeria. But with that said...Rivers state is the best economically structured state in the South South, not Akwa Ibom. In fact Rivers State is currently faced with decreased revenue from the Federal account and they are currently decreasing recurrent expenditure.

Bayelsa is the worst state in the South South. They are useless.

Thanks, monorail.

deltan states deserve their high allocation and should get more, Kano claims to have close to 18 million people. If each of them payed 1 naira worth of taxes (2 cents) a week thats 72 million naira a month on a cartoonishly low tax rate, but that's not happening. No state in Nigeria should say anything about allocations or funds. Lagos has enough sense to tax it's people and is the only state that doesn't need federal allocation.

I hope you realize that even with the taxes and other ways that Lagos accrues Revenue, that the Deltan states are still well ahead in revenue per capita. I never said they should have their revenue cut. Look at my post.

What I said in my post, was that, I was not impressed by their development!

Their Revenue to Development Ratio is extremely low. There is high levels of corruption in that region, they are doing next to nothing with their federal allocations.

What I am saying is, if you have money, then what are you doing with it?

I am not saying, they shouldn't have money. You are going off on another topic entirely. Even Akwa Ibom, that we often praise on this forum. Compared to the other parts of Nigeria, they are swimming in cash. Bayelsa is even worse...they are the state in Nigeria with the most funds per head. Bayelsa has 10 times more funds per head than Kano!

Yes I agree with you, the other states can generate more income. But there is no way I am going to praise development in the South South. BTW I have no bias with the South South, I am from Delta State partially. Delta State has more funds per head than Lagos, but it is only in recent years, that they have started development. It is not hard to see which states in Nigeria are the most corrupt.

So while we often praise the South South states. They actually have enough money to be doing a whole lot more! Lagos State is the only state in Nigeria, I will ever praise.

I'm not impressed with the development anywhere in Nigeria, I even feel that Lagos is making baby steps, but it's not because the governments are underfunded.

The north has enough money to make things happen, they just don't. Too many of nigeria's leaders, especially in the past generation completely except the fact that nigeria is a poor country and development isn't a priority, just something they pay lip service. The average nigerian is made to grow immune to and used to difficult conditions and carry on and the leaders are no different, especially in the north. I agree with you that it's not impressive in the delta, worst of all rural neglect makes delta villages the poorest in the country by far (even worst than the north). They just build what their peers are building (aka build whatever their peers are building-ring roads, roads, and monorails) just for show, few states are making fundamental changes outside of the cosmetic.

Let me not take anything away from Lagos though, they're leading the pack, not just in Nigeria but in Africa, but the potential for more is there.

You are very right TBITE!!!
Everyone talks about federal allocation but in actual fact most countries it's the other way round, the states bring contribution to the federal Purse.
When I was in Lagos my colleagues were critical of Fashola and said Lagos is rich because it has businesses it can tax from but don't forget these companies have always been there even in the military era, Lagos is maximising it's potential because it doesn't have farm lands other states should stop complaining and maximise their assets, the south south states are so blessed with resources, Godwill Akpabio is doing relatively well but honestly with all the money he has got at his disposal it's nothing, these governors are sitting on ready made money they are like sons of rich fathers, they haven't actually generated any income.

EDIT - I HAVE REMOVED THE FIRST BACTCH OF PICS - BECAUSE I WAS FORCED TO BY THE OWNER OF THE PICS

Courtesy of Alcon Nigeria (Facebook)

http://i.imgur.com/NbYtM.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0FJTv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/SOBdz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8ORnk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MewUb.jpg

Courtesy of Alcon Nigeria (Facebook)

http://i.imgur.com/Z2Rph.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0cB4J.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mdhgY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ciXEa.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/NnLn4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sPaRa.jpg

Interesting!

nks T-bite.

Not quite. Lost interest in this project after I actually saw the scale of it. There have been different issues with contracts, change of contractor, etc. And after years since inception, the line is currently covering only one stretch of road. Not even sure if it is up to one kilometre that has been covered.

TBITE and co. You have to understand that baby steps are better than no steps at all. Look, Cross River State and other South South states have not being in existence for four years, although the recent development taking place in these states have mainly occured during that time period.
These Governors could have just decided to be blatantly corrupt like their predecessors and not fix roads, or not try to provide basic infrastructures to their people, and hoard all the state's resources and use for their personal benefit.
But no, we are beginning to witness a reorientation in their thought process. They now realize that providing basic infrastructure will win you a second term and maybe a presidential candidate. It is this reorientation that matters, and that is why taking baby steps matter. Believe me, Im a Physician and I know the importance of baby steps in the evaluation of the growth of a child. Same applies here. You may not understand now, but the results will manifest sooner than later.

Is this really value for money? Who would it serve?

I wouldn't even call it a baby step. there are entire regions of america without a stitch of monorailing. I don't like comparing Nigeria to africa because africa is in bad shape (as is nigeria) but these projects only exist among an elite few nations in Africa.

It's up to following administrations to expand it, but it's a start. To think 4 years ago we didn't even have trains, now we have monorails. I wouldn't call it a baby step, we have to remember we can from nothing.

I wouldn't even call it a baby step. there are entire regions of america without a stitch of monorailing. I don't like comparing Nigeria to africa because africa is in bad shape (as is nigeria) but these projects only exist among an elite few nations in Africa.

It's up to following administrations to expand it, but it's a start. To think 4 years ago we didn't even have trains, now we have monorails. I wouldn't call it a baby step, we have to remember we can from nothing.

uuuhhh....thats because monorails are not a viable source of mass transportation. The amount of money it cost to build it compared to the very few passengers it carries makes it very unattractive. you typically find monorails in american at airports, other than that they aren't used for mass transportation. Port harcourt would have been better off building a light rail or better yet having an in-depth BRT system which is alot less expensive and can carry about the amount of passengers/hour as a train.

TBITE and co. You have to understand that baby steps are better than no steps at all. Look, Cross River State and other South South states have not being in existence for four years, although the recent development taking place in these states have mainly occured during that time period.
These Governors could have just decided to be blatantly corrupt like their predecessors and not fix roads, or not try to provide basic infrastructures to their people, and hoard all the state's resources and use for their personal benefit.
But no, we are beginning to witness a reorientation in their thought process. They now realize that providing basic infrastructure will win you a second term and maybe a presidential candidate. It is this reorientation that matters, and that is why taking baby steps matter. Believe me, Im a Physician and I know the importance of baby steps in the evaluation of the growth of a child. Same applies here. You may not understand now, but the results will manifest sooner than later.

You are overrating progress made in Rivers State in this renewed Amaechi term. Some work has been done in the first term true, but I think we are beginning to take the hype too seriously. Port Harcourt still has A LOT of bad roads.

Traffic lights that were working before this admin even came in are now defunct. Monorail has only a line of pillars not up to a kilometre long (I reckon) on one stretch of road in the whole city, to justify over three years of work? No platforms built, rails only now being connected, and we are rejoicing? I hope work is ramped up because if the aim is to finish things in the current state then it would truly have been a wasted exercise. Who will get out of a bus just to pay to enter monorail for three minutes? Trust me, you guys have been looking at the same pillars for over three years now, it is only that one small stretch.

So as I said, let us put things in perspective. On a bright note (since you seem to thirst for one), Rivers State has the best public primary schools in the country bar none. No other state comes close to the different primary schools that were built in Amaechi's first term. They are that good that parents have been reportedly pulling their kids out of private schools to put them in there. When I mean good I speak of the infrastructure, and they are in pretty much all local government areas of the state. Note of warning though, maintenance might start becoming an issue from what I saw.

We need to separate hype from the reality so we know where we really stand.This is how the crook Odilli was collecting different 'Governor of the Year' awards in his time, when he was destroying his state and squandering the resources of the people.

You are overrating progress made in Rivers State in this renewed Amaechi term. Some work has been done in the first term true, but I think we are beginning to take the hype too seriously. Port Harcourt still has A LOT of bad roads.

Traffic lights that were working before this admin even came in are now defunct. Monorail has only a line of pillars not up to a kilometre long (I reckon) on one stretch of road in the whole city, to justify over three years of work? No platforms built, rails only now being connected, and we are rejoicing? I hope work is ramped up because if the aim is to finish things in the current state then it would truly have been a wasted exercise. Who will get out of a bus just to pay to enter monorail for three minutes? Trust me, you guys have been looking at the same pillars for over three years now, it is only that one small stretch.

So as I said, let us put things in perspective. On a bright note (since you seem to thirst for one), Rivers State has the best public primary schools in the country bar none. No other state comes close to the different primary schools that were built in Amaechi's first term. They are that good that parents have been reportedly pulling their kids out of private schools to put them in there. When I mean good I speak of the infrastructure, and they are in pretty much all local government areas of the state. Note of warning though, maintenance might start becoming an issue from what I saw.

We need to separate hype from the reality so we know where we really stand.This is how the crook Odilli was collecting different 'Governor of the Year' awards in his time, when he was destroying his state and squandering the resources of the people.
i agree with you.the monorail was an ill advised project.
but odili and amaechi should not be mentioned in the same paragraph.odili was a thoroughbred crook.
the maintenance of the primary schools from what i gather is to be putn in the hands of a private indian firm to manage.i guess the state govt know that those schools will rot if maintenance is not considered.but in all when it comes to education/health amaechi is number 1.no other governor comes close not even akpabio

delete

Sensational interview by Gov. Amaechi, I know some people may not agree but doing something is better than nothing.


WITHIN minutes of meeting Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, you would notice he is impatient and wants to be in charge. His impatience with finishing things quickly has had to battle with traditional bureaucracy. There is so much to do that he fears there may not be enough time for him to complete the transformational projects for Rivers State.

He is always on the move, a fast meal even on his own table, a diversion at the airport for a quick snack, and fast-paced instructions to his aides to call a commissioner, a permanent secretary, a director-general: whoever needed to be reached, to quicken the pace of work. His appetite for more to be done appears insatiable.

At first you may think it is a show, to impress his guests. You would discover that is Amaechi, simple, demonstrating rather than explaining. He would rather show you what he is doing than sit in the office talking about projects.

Things do slow him down. Being a Port Harcourt boy means knowing many people, who he greets, gives an appointment on the spot, shares his snacks with their children, and enquires if welfare packages had got to staff at locations away from head office.

At a primary health centre, where the doctor had turned up late for work, he asked women, who were around to immunise their kids, whether they were getting adequate attention. A nurse who tried to defend the absentee doctor drew the governor’s anger.

Amaechi worked the phones, searching for a doctor to attend to the patients. He reached a doctor on vacation, a member of the State Health Management Board and persuaded her to leave her Christmas shopping to attend to the patients at the health centre.

On his way out, a nurse whispered the arrival of a baby to him. “They want me to give the baby some money. I don’t have money,” he said. Some of his friends on the tour pooled resources and handed the governor a pile. He headed to the ward to see the baby.


Gov Amaechi
Moments after, he was pondering about the absentee doctor. “Something serious must have engaged her attention. This is the first time I am here and she is absent,” he said.

The next day, the accident could have been fatal. A driver running against traffic panicked on noticing he was face to face with Amaechi, who was driving himself. He tried veering into a side street, the governor bridged his vehicle slightly to stop him. In desperation, the man reversed, brushed the governor’s vehicle, then zoomed off with such ferocity that he could have taken anything on his path.

It happened so quickly. Amaechi thanked God that no one was harmed and we continued the tour. “How would this have been reported?,” he asked, as passers by who witnessed the incident waved to him. He was shocked to learn that reports could have portrayed the driver as the victim of over-zealous security men in the governor’s convoy.

Amaechi hates sirens. He has a constant battle getting his security men to put it off. He prefers moving incognito, waiting for his turn at inter-sections, but the security men would have none of that. Having being denied of leading convoys and blaring sirens, they cling to their final vestige of power – they jump down at the slightest excuse to clear the way. It is not something to concede as they ignore the governor’s protests.

We were on the second day of seeing projects that were changing the face of the state. The previous day, the governor was at a project site by 3am. He woke the contractor and had him over to discuss issues about the road that would be an alternative route while work on Aba Road continues. Contractors are getting used to being summoned at such hours over their work.

“It is a good time to see what is being done. The streets are quiet and you can get a lot done without distractions,” he explained. “I also get a chance to see things for myself when I go on these inspections. Contractors do not know when I will get to their sites.” Not even those in his convoy know where he is heading as he leads from one project to the other.

The changes from the demolitions (his wife’s warehouse was among those affected at Abonema waterside), one of the earliest places that went down as Amaechi commenced the rebuilding of Port Harcourt to the Garden City, are reflecting. There is a lot of work to do, but Rivers State has a workaholic for a governor.

In this interaction with the Vanguard team of Ikeddy ISIGUZO, Chairman, Editorial Board, Azu AKANWA, Emma AZIKEN, Jimitota ONOYUME and Chijioke NWANKPA, who took the pictures, Amaechi, winner of Vanguard’s Personality of The Year 2012, tells his story as he drove us round the State…

His Motivation
I BELIEVE that you cannot have public resources and not address the social and economic issues. I want to see our people live better. There are basic issues that, if not addressed, society would not improve. One of them is education. You must recognise the fact that access to education and affordability are two key issues that you must address. In addressing access, you make the schools available for pupils and the citizens to use.

But in addressing access, you cannot divorce access from affordability. Where most people cannot afford education, they do not get their people educated and the consequences of non-education include the fact that ignorance inhibits the mind. So, you can see people who are educated trying to confuse those who are not educated.

You need to liberate the mind and what liberates the mind is education and, if people cannot afford education, then they would not go to school. So, that informed my decision to make it free at primary and secondary levels, which, to me, is sufficient to get the mind liberated. At the university level it is optional. I wish we could run a free education policy at the university level, but we do not have the money.


A sickbay in one of the primary schools
Education
WE flagged off the free education on 1 October 2010 – free text and exercise books are distributed every session to pupils in all state primary and secondary schools. Free education in the state’s standard educational facilities is expected to give children from Rivers State an edge in academics, particularly those from poor homes who ordinarily may not have been opportune to have such educational upbringing. Out of 500 new model primary schools being built across our 23 local government areas of the state, 254 are 100 percent completed, 92 are fully functional while the others are being furnished and equipped.

Our initial plan was 750 primary schools by 2015. We have had challenges with getting land to build; there has been an increase in the number of pupils. We would do 500 schools, but a storey-building with 25 classrooms, instead of 14 and not more than 30 students per class. These primary schools are each equipped with ICT facility, modern library, science laboratory, football field, basketball pitch, volleyball pitch, a sick bay, nursery playground.

Twenty-four model secondary schools are being built across the state with standard boarding facilities (two students in each en suite room), free feeding, and free uniforms, fully equipped laboratories for all required subjects, language laboratories, and sporting facilities.

The model school in Eleme will admit its first students, 1,000, in January 2013. Two others, Etche and Saakpenwa, will admit students next academic session, while Emohua, Buguma and Oyigbo are almost completed. The secondary schools would be managed by an educational consultant Educomp Solution. Overseas scholarships and scholarship in schools within Nigeria are awarded yearly to Rivers indigenes at all academic levels, secondary, and tertiary – Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees as well other scholarly studies.

New teachers have been employed in the primary schools while training and re-training of teachers is now a regular affair. Government is paying an Indian company to manage the model schools. Staff quarters are fully. Each of the schools will have a governing board with representations from government, community, labour and Parent Teacher Association, who would run the school.

Health
160 model health centres are operational in our 23 local government areas. The free health care programme has contributed to a decline in the mortality rate of Rivers people particularly maternal and child mortality as the health centres are located to serve every part of the state. All indigenes and residents of the state are beneficiaries of the programme. People in the remote villages or coastal areas no longer have to visit the city for medical care.

For secondary health care, there are three new hospitals all completed. They include the ultra modern Rivers State Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital on Aba Road. This facility is completed and being furnished and equipped. The Kelsey Harrison Hospital, formerly known as New Niger Hospital on Emenike Street, Diobu, is fully equipped and ready to take off. The General Hospital at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology is also completed.

Agriculture
We have four fish farms-buguma, Andoni, Opobo and Ubima. Banana Farm in Ogoni-100 hectares have been done out of the total 250 hectares. Therefore is among the big farms we have started to create jobs for rural dwellers. It will employ about 500 workers. Rivers Songhai learning initiative has a centre for training, agricultural production, research and development of sustainable agricultural practices. The farm project sits on a 314-hectares land in Bunu-Tai, an agrarian community in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

It is about 20 times the size of the Songhai model in Porto Novo – an integrated farm which combines livestock, arable farming, fishery, snail farming and poultry. There is a 2,000-hectare farm in Etche with a total available land space of 3,000 hectares. The farm is projected to cost $140 million. The state is investing $100m; the foreign partner $40 million. The farm would have 300 farming houses, agro processing and 3,000 hectares for cultivation. The 300 houses would accommodate 300 farming families who would live and work on the farm.

Most Important Project
ALL of them are important. Education is the most important based on the reasons I have given. But I think if you do not have road network to move goods and services you would not be able to run the economy because you need to run the economy by providing good road networks. People have been complaining of traffic and the reason is not because there are too many cars, but it is because the roads are not enough. We are building more roads and expanding existing ones.

There is a road that would take you from the heart of town to the airport and, even though it is not up to 17 kilometres, it would cost us about N200 billion. I do not have that money, but, if I do not do it, Aba Road would continue to be the major trunk road into the city and we will continue to have traffic crisis. We need to deal with the issue of road network.

Health is also important if we have to govern people. If the people are not alive, you cannot govern any person. So we have to provide quality healthcare. But,basically, the most important is education.

Inspiration
WHEN I move around, I see many challenges that are opportunities to improve the lives of our people. Once I discuss them with relevant teams and we can find the money, we design projects that can take care of the situation. We have an option of mechanising the modern farms we have set up with partners. We adopted the manual option to create jobs for more people, who are also learning modern farming skills. They can set up their own farms or continue working in our farms.

The welfare of our people inspires these projects.

New Aircraft
MUCH has been said about the aircraft. It belongs to Rivers State government. We had three aircraft when I came into office. We sold one to acquire a more modern craft that is also more economical to run. So mischief makers said we bought the aircraft while the state was flooded. The aircraft had been purchased before the flood and it is meant for more efficiency in the operations of the state. We can save time, keep our schedules, if we are not stranded at airports.

Security Challenges
WE have done a lot about security. We are doing more. Before we came to office, kidnapping was a serious challenge. We have dealt with it substantially. We are finishing December without a single report of kidnapping or armed robbery. We have specially trained policemen handling security. By February 2013, our security helicopters would have arrived to give the state 24-hour security coverage.

Governors’ Forum
BEING the Chairman of the Forum is a big distraction to me. There are many issues that need my attention in Rivers State, but I have to share my time between the Forum and Rivers. However, it is a privilege having to serve in that capacity and enjoying the support of my colleagues. My tenure as Chairman runs out in May. (He was silent when told that his colleagues may want him to continue.)

Governors’ Forum Anti-People
I SUPPORT the removal of fuel subsidy because we are throwing money away. The beneficiaries of the subsidy are a few people who the probes have revealed are making billions of Naira at the expense of the people. The Governors’ Forum is accused of supporting removal of subsidy so that governors would get more revenue from the centre. Our position is that removal of subsidy would stop the wastes, make the sector more competitive, attract investors to build refineries and create jobs. Without removal of subsidy, we doubt if these could be achieved, so our position is actually pro-people.

Opposition To The President


Operating theatre of Kelsey Harrison Hospital, formerly New Niger Hospital
MOST of the governors are from the same party with the President, but there are several grounds for disagreement. Some of them border on interpretation of the Constitution. We are not opposed to the President, we are opposed to violation of the Constitution which we swore to uphold.

Appropriation of federally-generated revenue must be in line with the Constitution. We are opposed to the Federal Government accumulating resources that belong to other tiers of government for its use. We are not opposing the President as an individual, but the government.

We are elected to serve our various states. Where the Federal Government takes resources that should go to the states, we would be starved of funds to develop the states. Where we cannot resolve these matters on our own, we head to court to interpret the Constitution. We are in a democracy and must sustain it through the laws.

Challenges Of Federalism
THE Federal Government is wasteful. What does it do with the trillions of Naira it budgets annually? How many houses has it built? Where are the roads it is constructing? We want more powers and resources for the states whose projects affect the people directly. I will use two examples to illustrate how federalism, as we practise it today, is hampering development of the country.

Rivers State is building its own transmission lines and sub-stations to distribute the power it is generating. The state has been told it has no powers to do these, they are federal responsibilities. Rivers trained 500 policemen in Israel with the understanding that their special training would assist in tackling the security challenges in the state.

The Federal Government transferred them to different parts of the country without telling the state. We have to train a new set.

Support For State Police
IF we have state police, Rivers would be able to train its police the way it wants. It would not have suffered the loss of those 500 policemen it trained. Most states are spending a lot of money improving the police which are not under their control. States can use the same resources to fund their own police. Only those with something to hide are afraid of state police.

Due Process Delays
WE have a law setting up the Due Process Office. It vets our contracts and issues certification for us to proceed. Some of the delays that we have with contracts are because they are going through due process. The delays are inconvenient, but they help check abuses in our processes.

Collapsed Airport Road Bridge
WE are re-constructing most of the roads we met. They have defects. Some have no drainage or the job was shoddy. Airport Road is one of many examples. Some months back the bridge there collapsed and worsened the traffic on Aba Road. We are re-building the bridge. We had to create an emergency route to ease the traffic while the work continues.

Relations With Peter Odili
HE is my boss. I refer to him as my boss and benefactor. We had political disagreements and they have been resolved. I did not set up the Truth & Reconciliation Commission to embarrass him. Many people had grievances when I became governor, the Commission was to reconcile people. He remains my boss. (He refuses to comment on Dr. Odili’s book, Conscience and History – My Story, saying he had not read it.)

Allegations That He Has Stopped Working
PEOPLE are used to seeing me on the road, at project sites and they think that is all the work there was for me to do. I have things to do in the office and the strategy for getting things done keep changing. In the early days, I needed to be out there more often. I was 42, and had a lot more strength.

Most of the projects I was running around then have been completed. They are in use. It is not true that I am not working. I still inspect projects, more at night, and in the early hours when people are asleep.

That they do not see me doing the inspections does not mean I am not working. Contractors handling our projects know I am working. I call them up most times I am inspecting their work.

New Port Harcourt City
THE New City Project is aimed at depopulating Port Harcourt and it is a public-private participation project. People are to buy and build and it is envisaged that the new city would generate its own 24-hour electricity. Part of it would be an entertainment centre that would be spectacular for its difference to others anywhere in the country. The centre is a private initiative. The new city has a 1,000 bed hospital a new campus of the Rivers State University of Technology, and a Sports Centre, with a 36,000 capacity stadium and facilities for sports.

A 1,000 housing unit that a German firm is building would commence early 2013. Next to the New City is the expressway that links the export processing and industrial zones of Onne with all the opportunities that lie there.

His Fears
NOT security as you may think. My life is in God’s hands. We passed the security scare when we used to chase criminals in the bush. (A birthday painting with him jumping obstacles in the bush from one of thee military commanders testifies to his adventures.) The biggest fear is that there may not be time for me to complete the model secondary school projects in all the local government areas, nothing more.

Mono Rail
THE mono rail is meant to decongest Aba Road, our busiest route. It is only 7.1 kilometres long, but covers the busiest sections of Port Harcourt. If we had money, we would have liked to extend it to other parts of Port Harcourt. The beams are being set and we should deliver that project soon.

Funds For Projects
WE have improved Internally Generated Revenue. IGR used to be N2.5 billion, now it is N6.5 and our target for 2013 is N7.5 billion so that we can ensure that we fund all the recurrent expenditure from the IGR. I think our recurrent expenditure in 2012 is nearly N100 or so billion out of a total of N490 billion. Even if we are not able to get N100 billion and get up to N88 or N90 billion as projected by us, then we would have done more than two-thirds of our expectations.
Our recurrent expenditure is exactly 30.9 per cent of the budget. (The Federal Government’s recurrent expenditure is over 72 per cent).

Peer Review Mechanism
WE have a peer review mechanism that Justice Muhammadu Uwais chairs. Different governors face different challenges. You cannot compare any governor with the governor of Rivers State because the amount of revenue we get is quite different from each other. If you want to compare, you have to compare orange with orange and apple with apple, you do not compare orange with apple. In that setting, it is challenging to use the work that is being done in one to compare another state’s. Even with all the money we get, construction cost here is high. Imagine a 17- kilometre road costing N200 billion. As I was pointing out to you, we excavate up to six metres, removing clay before we construct roads. Peer review mechanism must reflect challenges peculiar to each state.

Autonomy For Local Governments
LOCAL governments in Rivers State have autonomy. They are elected and run their administrations. I have heard allegations that some governors appropriate the allocations of local governments. It is different here. They run their councils. I do not deduct anything from their allocations, instead I pay N2 billion every month to the local governments for their teachers’ salaries.

Rural Rivers
WE are being accused of concentrating on the urban centres, but we are getting to the rural areas. They are included in our educational and health programmes which are progressing at the same pace as the cities. In case of electricity, we are considering other ways of generating power for them. Transportation is still challenging. We are dealing with them. Our mandate is to improve lives all over Rivers.

Less Than Three Years Left
I HAVE two years and five months to go. I count it everyday. I am grateful to God that He has brought me this far. I am looking forward to finishing the tenure and resting.

Sustainability Projects
I AM not worried about what would happen to the projects when I leave. Whatsoever gave me the idea would also give the next governor the idea to do better than I. He would even have an advantage over me. While I am mobilising resources for new projects, most of his job would be to maintain or complete projects. I think he would have enough resources to carry on very well.

The Next Governor
I HAVE to be God to know who would be the next governor. I do not know, but I hope someone who would work for the people of Rivers State would emerge.

His Presidential Ambition
THE speculation must have come from my visit to Sokoto. The university was awarding an honorary degree to me, I decided to pass a night there. Some say I want to be a Vice President. I have no such ambitions. At the Governors’ Forum we joke a lot about these things. We are friends. One of the governors sent me gifts for the Christmas celebrations. When I call him, I will ask if he is lobbying for a presidential ticket, that is how we treat these matters. I am busy trying to fulfil my promises to Rivers people.

His Legacy
THE legacy that I have left behind is still on education. When I travel abroad, I meet children say, “Sir, my name is XYZ from Rivers State, I am a scholar, I am on that State’s scholarship. We send 300 students every year to Canada and the United Kingdom for different courses.

source:http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/i-want-to-see-our-people-live-better-amaechi/

EDIT - I HAVE REMOVED THE FIRST BATCH OF PICS - BECAUSE I WAS FORCED TO BY THE OWNER OF THE PICS

Fortunately the Second batch of pics remain - Those are from the contractors.

how are you going to say federal government is wasteful, when you flew 500 men to israel for police training as opposed to flying 12 israeli trainers to rivers to train them?

pA4VbqW-ptE

Someone should post the five parts of this video, i can't remember how to do it. Quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5aGIJFsLg

Someone should post the five parts of this video, i can't remember how to do it. Quite interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J5aGIJFsLg

2J5aGIJFsLg

All Credits to http://fizzygist.blogspot.com.au (Dan Egbuna)

http://i.imgur.com/PzlnF3D.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/zaMgWFY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6cuLBS7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/KVONWrp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/1QgkNT2.jpg

All Credits to http://fizzygist.blogspot.com.au (Dan Egbuna)

http://i.imgur.com/HuNS0Cf.jpg

pA4VbqW-ptE
Near the end the guy said the monorail is designed to handle 6000 passengers per day. To me that just seems tiny. They spend $500 million for 6000 passengers per day. I hope he made a mistake.

Near the end the guy said the monorail is designed to handle 6000 passengers per day. To me that just seems tiny. They spend $500 million for 6000 passengers per day. I hope he made a mistake.

I saw the video a couple of months ago too. Hopefully that capacity can be increased with more carriages. But the project has left a sour taste in the mouth to be honest. Do you see all those pictures TBite just recently posted? Don't get too confused, it is the same stretch of road (at most 500metres if even up to half that) taken from different angles. Enough background research wasn't given to this project and to make it worse, the project management was quite poor. When I heard the Naira figure quoted the first time I saw the video, I almost fell off my chair.

Looking at the map.....of the three or so stations, it is certainly in the kilometres in length (The first phase that is)

If you were on ground and it appeared to be 500 metres, then what that means, is that they are nowhere near completion of phase 1.

I looked at the map myself on google, looked at where it starts and where it ends and it is certainly not less than 1km in scope, that is absurd.

THe whole project is even longer than the 3.5 Km of Phase 1.

Gar3th has in the past said that Monorails have poor capacity, but if you look at the Tokyo Monorail system, that is a HIGHLY effective system that is probably better than some BRT or Light rail systems. So what this does tell us, is that Monorails cna be effective, it just comes down to the scope.

But at the same time, we must be weary of costs. How did the Japanese finance their Monorail and what was their total cost.

Anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Looking at the map.....of the three or so stations, it is certainly in the kilometres in length (The first phase that is)

If you were on ground and it appeared to be 500 metres, then what that means, is that they are nowhere near completion of phase 1.

I looked at the map myself on google, looked at where it starts and where it ends and it is certainly not less than 1km in scope, that is absurd.

THe whole project is even longer than the 3.5 Km of Phase 1.

Gar3th has in the past said that Monorails have poor capacity, but if you look at the Tokyo Monorail system, that is a HIGHLY effective system that is probably better than some BRT or Light rail systems. So what this does tell us, is that Monorails cna be effective, it just comes down to the scope.

But at the same time, we must be weary of costs. How did the Japanese finance their Monorail and what was their total cost.

Anyway,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

You misunderstand. When the whole project is finished I believe it is meant to be over 10km if I am not mistaken (all phases). But after three years on ground, they have not been able to complete up to 500metres. Go to the previous page or so that has a somewhat ariel view of the pillars. That is ALL of it.

With regards to tokyo monorail systems, let us talk about value for money. Compare this system with the Tokyo one. Tokyo's monorails supplements an already extensive and highly effective rail system. The first phase of Port Harcourt's monorail which is what government is aiming to complete at least before the end of this term is mainly political and even Amaechi himself recognises this (watch all parts of the video i asked someone to post earlier in the thread (part 1 - 5). Tokyo has the money, Port Harcourt does not. Hence when projects are implemented, they have to give good value for money to both customers and investors in Nugeria more than most places.

I have taken a siddon look approach to this whole monorail thing, let us see how it ends. But so far, really not impressed.

You don't need to mention the other rail systems.

The Tokyo Monorail system ON IT'S OWN is a very effective mass transit system which proves that Monorails can be a highly effective public transportation system, but I don't know what the cost to effectiveness ratio was.

The 1st phase of this project, which is what is supposed to be complete before any train can operate is 3.5 Kilometres! The 500 Metres you speak of (If it is the case), must be an issue with the contractor working slow.

At the same time, though even though Rivers State might not have the capacity to extend this project to the scope of the Tokyo system for example, they may bring out the best of the project via positioning. Transportation is not glamour. You don't create transport networks for recognition. It is not a competition, you only create transport networks to do the work that needs to be done. So if this Monorail is situated in a highly critical part of Port Harcourt, maybe it is not as extensive, but perhaps it can do the most amount of work in the most critical areas, making a smaller system have far reaching implications.

Furthermore when people speak about transportation costs, they talk as if transportation is in a bubble or it is isolated. Transportation is not its own thing, it affects everything and everything affects transportation. So just because another transport option is cost effective, does not mean it has no costs, because it might have some costs outside of the transport sector. Monorails have less costs outside of their scheme than other modes such as BRT or Busways in general. So some of the costs incurred by the Monorail, might be subtracted, due to the less impact that it has.

anything that can take cars off the road will do wonders for any nigerian city in the south. More importantly anything that can cushion the escalating boom in car ownership, regardless of the distance, is going to impact cost of live tremendously.

You don't need to mention the other rail systems.

The Tokyo Monorail system ON IT'S OWN is a very effective mass transit system which proves that Monorails can be a highly effective public transportation system, but I don't know what the cost to effectiveness ratio was.

The 1st phase of this project, which is what is supposed to be complete before any train can operate is 3.5 Kilometres! The 500 Metres you speak of (If it is the case), must be an issue with the contractor working slow.

At the same time, though even though Rivers State might not have the capacity to extend this project to the scope of the Tokyo system for example, they may bring out the best of the project via positioning. Transportation is not glamour. You don't create transport networks for recognition. It is not a competition, you only create transport networks to do the work that needs to be done. So if this Monorail is situated in a highly critical part of Port Harcourt, maybe it is not as extensive, but perhaps it can do the most amount of work in the most critical areas, making a smaller system have far reaching implications.

Furthermore when people speak about transportation costs, they talk as if transportation is in a bubble or it is isolated. Transportation is not its own thing, it affects everything and everything affects transportation. So just because another transport option is cost effective, does not mean it has no costs, because it might have some costs outside of the transport sector. Monorails have less costs outside of their scheme than other modes such as BRT or Busways in general. So some of the costs incurred by the Monorail, might be subtracted, due to the less impact that it has.

You need to chill out and stop flogging a dead horse. I will try to explain to you yet AGAIN, that my major grouse with the project is that after three years, we only have at most 500meteres of pillars completed. Got it? So the pontification was unecessary. Read before commenting.

Not a bad project at all, despite the slow speed. On completion, it looks like it will serve P.H well.

You need to chill out and stop flogging a dead horse. I will try to explain to you yet AGAIN, that my major grouse with the project is that after three years, we only have at most 500meteres of pillars completed. Got it? So the pontification was unecessary. Read before commenting.

That is included in 2 of my comments.

I hope you realize that even with the taxes and other ways that Lagos accrues Revenue, that the Deltan states are still well ahead in revenue per capita. I never said they should have their revenue cut. Look at my post.

What I said in my post, was that, I was not impressed by their development!

Their Revenue to Development Ratio is extremely low. There is high levels of corruption in that region, they are doing next to nothing with their federal allocations.

What I am saying is, if you have money, then what are you doing with it?

I am not saying, they shouldn't have money. You are going off on another topic entirely. Even Akwa Ibom, that we often praise on this forum. Compared to the other parts of Nigeria, they are swimming in cash. Bayelsa is even worse...they are the state in Nigeria with the most funds per head. Bayelsa has 10 times more funds per head than Kano!

Yes I agree with you, the other states can generate more income. But there is no way I am going to praise development in the South South. BTW I have no bias with the South South, I am from Delta State partially. Delta State has more funds per head than Lagos, but it is only in recent years, that they have started development. It is not hard to see which states in Nigeria are the most corrupt.

So while we often praise the South South states. They actually have enough money to be doing a whole lot more! Lagos State is the only state in Nigeria, I will ever praise.
A tribalistic skewed and simplistic view.keep praising your lagos state then, where in lies no corruption.

Lagos is one of the worst managed states in the union, and it's primarily ACN propaganda mixed with the fact that Lagos is the media house that makes any form of development in Lagos national and international news where some states develop in completely silence. What 10% of the concrete laid in Lagos is done by the Lagos State government?

the difference is Lagos has a thriving commercial sector that can fill the gap. I creates entire neighborhoods, markets etc, where in other states the economy simply isn't there and the burden on the government as far as what %age of services are provided is higher. When the delta state government does little or nothing the states economy is halted and set back because in states like Delta the government is the economy. Lagos has learned to live as if there was no government to begin with due to years of neglect and inaction.

More over government has been horrible in the SW, and mediocre governance is treated like a watershed. Fashola hasn't done every thing Ohakim did in Imo state. Only Ohakim is considered a failure because Sam Mbakwe before him was exceptionally good. It's just that Fashola is so much better than Tinubu, who was corrupt and negligent because Fashola is a D student and Tinubu was an F student. If you look at their achievements of Ohakim and Fashola


housing development
enforcing traffic laws
cleaning up markets
cracking down on informal trading
restricting okadas
cleaning up the city
demolishing slums
youth employment to fight crime
tax enforcement


the two are twins. Only Ohakim was seen as a decline in governance and Fashola an upgrade due to the history of governance in their states and the dependence of Imo on government to keep the economy going (because the government is the economy)

Comparing Lagos with any other states in Nigeria to me is totally uncalled for, some states started even knowing what development is just in 1999. People forget that Lagos was the capital of oil rich Nigeria, the Centre of happenings in Nigeria. if i may ask why are we not comparing Lagos with other oil rich countries or even not oil rich countries in Africa and lets see where Lagos stands, My last check Lagos was 7th in Africa. The ranking was as follows: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Cairo, Nairobi, Alexandria then Lagos. If you take the ranking to the world then you an imagine were Lagos will fit in. So please lets STOP all these oh Lagos has highest tax returns, highest number of skyscrapers, population, cars, etc. than any state state in Nigeria. Why are we not comparing state capitals to other local government areas in the state? Nigeria is developing, some states are doing doing better than others, oil money or no oil money. When you see a performing state in Nigeria you will know. Edo state was performing poorly before, now its better. Imo state was performing poorly before, now its better, Akwa Ibom was performing poorly before now its better. we all knew the exploits of Donald Duke in Cross river state between 1999-2007, i'm not sure the story is still the same, so the list goes goes on my people. Putting Lagos and Abuja in the mix to me is pure mischief. They should go compete with their global counterparts. I rest my case.

Comparing Lagos with any other states in Nigeria to me is totally uncalled for, some states started even knowing what development is just in 1999. People forget that Lagos was the capital of oil rich Nigeria, the Centre of happenings in Nigeria. if i may ask why are we not comparing Lagos with other oil rich countries or even not oil rich countries in Africa and lets see where Lagos stands, My last check Lagos was 7th in Africa. The ranking was as follows: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Cairo, Nairobi, Alexandria then Lagos. If you take the ranking to the world then you an imagine were Lagos will fit in. So please lets STOP all these oh Lagos has highest tax returns, highest number of skyscrapers, population, cars, etc. than any state state in Nigeria. Why are we not comparing state capitals to other local government areas in the state? Nigeria is developing, some states are doing doing better than others, oil money or no oil money. When you see a performing state in Nigeria you will know. Edo state was performing poorly before, now its better. Imo state was performing poorly before, now its better, Akwa Ibom was performing poorly before now its better. we all knew the exploits of Donald Duke in Cross river state between 1999-2007, i'm not sure the story is still the same, so the list goes goes on my people. Putting Lagos and Abuja in the mix to me is pure mischief. They should go compete with their global counterparts. I rest my case.
Who did the ranking? What were the parameters used?

Cape Town (definitely -- and far better than many places in the developed world) and Durban. Johannesburg perhaps, but Nairobi is a no-no. Never been to Alexandria, but Cairo is simply an older culturally different version of Lagos.

More over government has been horrible in the SW, and mediocre governance is treated like a watershed. Fashola hasn't done every thing Ohakim did in Imo state. Only Ohakim is considered a failure because Sam Mbakwe before him was exceptionally good. It's just that Fashola is so much better than Tinubu, who was corrupt and negligent because Fashola is a D student and Tinubu was an F student. If you look at their achievements of Ohakim and Fashola
Without prejudice, Mr. Ohakim was probably among the WORST governors that ever (dis)graced any Nigerian state. :ohno:

Comparing Lagos with any other states in Nigeria to me is totally uncalled for, some states started even knowing what development is just in 1999. People forget that Lagos was the capital of oil rich Nigeria, the Centre of happenings in Nigeria. if i may ask why are we not comparing Lagos with other oil rich countries or even not oil rich countries in Africa and lets see where Lagos stands, My last check Lagos was 7th in Africa. The ranking was as follows: Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Cairo, Nairobi, Alexandria then Lagos. If you take the ranking to the world then you an imagine were Lagos will fit in. So please lets STOP all these oh Lagos has highest tax returns, highest number of skyscrapers, population, cars, etc. than any state state in Nigeria. Why are we not comparing state capitals to other local government areas in the state? Nigeria is developing, some states are doing doing better than others, oil money or no oil money. When you see a performing state in Nigeria you will know. Edo state was performing poorly before, now its better. Imo state was performing poorly before, now its better, Akwa Ibom was performing poorly before now its better. we all knew the exploits of Donald Duke in Cross river state between 1999-2007, i'm not sure the story is still the same, so the list goes goes on my people. Putting Lagos and Abuja in the mix to me is pure mischief. They should go compete with their global counterparts. I rest my case.

In general, I agree with your views. However, relating to the highlighted section in your post, I wouldn't pay too much attention to that ranking if I were u. The credibility of such ranking(s), is only reflected in who's carrying out the analysis and for what purpose. Often enough, the parameters used are inconsistent across board and varies depending on what the objectives are. There are no universally accepted standards as to what makes city A rank better than city B IMO. A case in point, consistently, cities in the scandinavian countries reveal themselves as the highest ranked city in the world in countless publications. However, I wouldn't have to look very far to find folks who would challenge such findings.
In fact, there exits, divisions amongst analyst alike as to which or what city should occupy what position, what should count and what shouldn't. Consequently, the ambiguity relating to the issues(what should count) reaffirms the informal nature of these publications.

Check these out(it just goes re-enforces my views above):

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_most_livable_cities

And this; compare and contrast. Who's right who's wrong??

www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-best-cities

Without prejudice, Mr. Ohakim was probably among the WORST governors that ever (dis)graced any Nigerian state. :ohno:

i agree, but his 'achievements' were the exact same as Fashola's. I don't see anything they've done differently. ACN is just louder.

i agree, but his 'achievements' were the exact same as Fashola's.

Really??? :lol: I don't think so. Even when compared in relative term, there truly is no argument.

Gentlemen, my ranking might not be accurate to the dot but the point still remains that Lagos does not rank well among cities of the world.

Really??? :lol: I don't think so. Even when compared in relative term, there truly is no argument.

show me the difference. In retrospect Ohakim wasn't the pariah he was made out to be though still a bad governor. He made Owerri the cleanest city in Nigeria and started it's boom

show me the difference. In retrospect Ohakim wasn't the pariah he was made out to be though still a bad governor.

Him being a pariah or not is up for debate. However, what not in doubt is the fact that his administration was characterised by poor governance.

He made Owerri the cleanest city in Nigeria and started it's boom

Really? :lol: This has to go down as the most amplified tribalistic piece of crap ever on the Nigerian forum.

Gentlemen, my ranking might not be accurate to the dot but the point still remains that Lagos does not rank well among cities of the world.

Granted, Lagos has it's challenges; so does every other city on the planet. Dwelling too much on ranking(s) isn't likely to have much of an impact in confronting those challenges.

ohakim to fashola, naaaaaa, ohakim to mbadinuju would do :bash:

Near the end the guy said the monorail is designed to handle 6000 passengers per day. To me that just seems tiny. They spend $500 million for 6000 passengers per day. I hope he made a mistake.

For comparison here is the addis abeba equivalent project.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1482310
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/529115_10151559227934587_2026177937_n.jpg
Construction of the light railway project, an electric railway system for the capital, which, when completed, will transport 80,000 passengers an hour, began in January 2012. The project, estimated to cost 475 million dollars, is being overseen by the Ethiopian Railway Corporation.

The project will lay down a total of 34.25Km of railway line, on two separate routes. The North-South route will begin fromMenilik II Squareand end at Kaliti, while the East-West route will connectAyatVillageto Tor Hailoch. Additional lines fromMelnilik II Squareto Shiro Meda, to the North; Kaliti to Gelan, to the South and Tor Hailoch to Lebu, to the South West, will be added to the design at a later stage.

Port Harcourt Monorail can ferry 15,000 a day.

6000 might be the startup amount.

It should be able to ferry even in excess of 20,000 at the very extreme.

For comparison here is the addis abeba equivalent project.

This is not equivalent project.
Only some parts of Addis Ababa Light Rail are elevated , mainly near the main crosses and traffic circles. It can be compared with Lagos Blue Line.

He is not talking about equivalent in that they are like for like.

he means the cost is comparative and the purpose (Mass transit) is comparative.

http://i.imgur.com/9Zp3unK.jpg

Tbite, Gove Amaechi said in one of those informational videos he put out that he will put trains on the tracks, even without building train stations, just so that the public can see that the project is not dead. I think this is what's going on here.

http://i.imgur.com/9Zp3unK.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong but these images are not real.

Yes they are not real. But that is pretty much what it will look like and naija247 is right, the Trains will soon be put up.