Transportation today can be consider “ a must” as humans, goods and services must Translocate to solve daily human needs. Transportation today is a global piece of attention as human population rapidly increases and the drive for survival, work and luxurious living goes hay wire!
In Africa today, the lack of a sustainable means of mass transportation is costing the continent over $100 Billion Dollars in revenue annually as humans, goods and services movement comes at huge costs, climate destruction through harmful toxic CO2 emissions and Traffic Jams in Big cities which often results in Millions of missed opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
-Transportation today is becoming a critical factor of sustainable development with increased global movement of People, Goods and Services.
-In Africa today, Unsustainable Transportation is costing the continent $Billions of Dollars in lost revenue.
-How lack of sustainable Mass Inter-African Transportation is causing slow development in Africa.
-How Electric Train Development and Transportation Service could help push sustainable mass transportation in Africa.
-Challenges Facing the Development and Safe Deployment of Electric Trains for Mass Transportation in Africa.
In Africa today, Transportation of Humans, Goods and Services has reached a high crescendo as the continent continues to develop and expand. Transportation in Africa today, is ravaged by so many factors that end up costing the African continent over $50 Billion Dollars in Lost revenues due to unsustainable methods of mass transportation.
This eminence of highly unsustainable means of mass transportation greatly affects African development as slow movement of People, Goods and Services means that Africa’s GDP will suffer huge setbacks due to transportation delays and breakdowns.
Across the African continent in developed economies, more sustainable means of mass transportation are helping developed economies to grow fast! Today, Light speed trains have been developed and deployed in countries like China. These light speed trains are enabling workers to habit and commute to work from distances of over 500KM covered by light speed electric trains in a matter of just a few hours.
This ultimately means that increased productivity will be witnessed in these regions witnessing fast, safe and smooth movement of people, goods and services.
Meanwhile in Africa today, the continent is highly dependent on several unsustainable means of transportation such as PMS (Petrol) cars, buses, tricycles and motorcycle bikes.
These old and outdated means of transportation increases dependency on already depleting crude oil, raises harmful toxic CO2 gas emissions and ultimately results in Millions of Missed opportunities due to road traffic hold ups. Africa as a developing continent cannot afford to continue with these unsustainable methods of Mass transportation if the continent wishes to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals on Sustainable Transport (SDG Target 11.2 which seeks to Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030, with a focus on vulnerable populations (women, children, and persons with disabilities).
How lack of sustainable Mass Inter-African Transportation is causing slow development in Africa
Today in Africa, inter-country transportation of People and Goods is limited to Air flights due to the absence of inter-country train services. This ultimately results in Millions of missed trade, entrepreneurship and business opportunities for Africa hence a good number of Africans are most often times unable to pay for Airfares in order to make it to invited cross-country African programs, exhibitions, and business summits.
An example can be seen in the Author himself, a selected trainee and member of the African Impact Academy AIA 2025 Cohort hosted by the United States University in Africa (USIU) and MoFund Africa. Upon successful onboarding and completion of the 1-year virtual training program for selected high impact businesses cut across South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria, I received an invitation to attend the grand finale of the African Impact Academy passing put program held at the United States University in Africa conference hall. Due to high Air ticket Fares and lack of inter-country train station services, I was unable to make it to the grand finale of the African Impact Academy program.
In Africa today, the lack of inter-country train transportation is causing huge $Billion losses and missed business opportunities. For example: Benue State Nigeria holds the Largest Yam Market in all of Africa. Today, a big sized tuber of Benue yam goes for under N1,000 in Benue state but sold in Lagos state for N3000–4000 for a big tuber of yam. This increase in cost is championed by the deplorable state of road transportation in Nigeria which often results in increased transportation costs, road risks and time delays.
How Electric Train Development and Transportation Service In Africa could help push Sustainable Mass Transportation in Africa.
Cheaper, Fast and Secure Transportation: Electric Train Services provide a clean, fast, safe and sustainable means of mass transportation of People, Goods and Services. Electric Trains if successfully developed and deployed in African Countries could provide a cheaper, fast and safe method of Mass Transportation thereby, reducing pressure on African roads and Fostering the Movement of Agricultural Goods, Raw Earth Materials and other African products.
Inter-Country Travel: Electric Train Services could also open rooms for Intra-African Movement via Light Speed Trains that covers long distances in very short time. This will greatly improve Cross-country Entrepreneurship, Business, GDP, Culture and African Posterity.
Creating New Job Opportunities: Electric Speed Light trains if introduced for transportation in Africa, would create thousands of job opportunities for African Graduates and African people.
Climate Development: Electric Speed Trains provide a climate friendlier means of transportation that emits near zero harmful toxic Carbon Emissions. This means less green house gas emissions and better living for Africa.
Challenges Facing the Development and Safe Deployment of Electric Trains for Mass Transportation in Africa.
-Inadeqate Power Supply: Africa is greatly grappling with erratic power supply and power outages which means that Electricity powered trains will suffer with power outages which are sure to disrupt transportation operations.
-Fear of Terrorist Attacks: Today, Insecurity is on a high in different parts of Africa. The emergence of Electric Train Transportation could come with increased security risks of Terrorist attacks. This can be seen in the Terrorist Attack on a Nigerian Train in what would be the most prominent Nigerian train attack which occurred on March 28, 2022, when terrorists bombed the Abuja-Kaduna rail track in Katari, Kaduna State, forcing a passenger train to a stop. Gunmen then surrounded the coaches and opened fire, resulting in 8 deaths, 26 hospitalized, and the abduction of 62 passengers.
-Poor Maintenance could lead to Breakdowns: One aspect Africa greatly struggles is the aspect of technology maintenance. With Electric Train Transportation, lack of proper technical knowhow and maintenance practices could lead to renewed Breakdown in Electric Train Transportation services thereby, resulting in huge losses.
Conclusion:
Africa is greatly lagging behind in her quest to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on Sustainable Transport (SDG Target 11.2 which seeks to Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all by 2030.
Today in Nigeria, the focus is shifting heavily toward mass transit, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and modernizing the dominant informal transit sectors (such as minibuses/paratransit) to reduce emissions.
This comes as Traffic congestion is highly evident in Nigeria due to widespread urban and inter-city crisis driven by inadequate road capacity, rapid population growth, and poor driving habits. The problem is heavily concentrated in major commercial centers like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, resulting in severe economic losses and diminished quality of life for commuters.
Today, Lagos alone hosts approximately 40% of Nigeria’s registered vehicles, with the city seeing commuters spending up to 6 hours daily in traffic. This Gridlock in the state costs an estimated ₦4 trillion annually in lost productivity, wasted fuel, and vehicle wear.
This ultimately means that Africa must quickly look towards adopting more sustainable, clean, faster and safer means of Mass Transportation such as Electric Powered Trains as Rapidly urbanizing cities like Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg face severe congestion.
By Speeding up the Development and Deployment of Electric Trains for intra and inter African transportation, Africa will greatly reduce pressure on her roads, Boost GDP, Foster Cross Border Trade and Create Millions of New Jobs for the teeming African Populace.
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