Place of Rail Transport Operations on Food Security in South Eastern Nigeria's Rail Corridor

Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 270 Place of Rail Transport Operations on Food Security in South Eastern Nigeria’s Rail Corridor Dr. Chimezie Nwosu Centre for Foundation and Interdisciplinary Studies, Baze University, Abuja email: chimezie.nw[email protected] | email: [email protected] 070-32113612 Dr Gabriel Oluwaseun Ilori Transmission Company of Nigeria | Email: [email protected] | 081-39729092 Mr Casmir Chukwudi Okpoebo Department of Humanities and Social Sciences | School of General Studies Federal Polytechnic, Nasaarawa | Email: [email protected] | 080-33720972 Dr Mercy Olanike Ilori Institute of chartered economists of Nigeria | Email: [email protected] | 080-59610747 Dr Saleh Abdulkadir Maigida Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences,| Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria | email: [email protected] | 08027524517 DOI : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17466317 Abstract This study investigated the implications of rail transport operations on food security in Enugu North and Portharcourt Local Government Areas of the Eastern District of Nigerian Railway Corporation. Data for this study were obtained from both primary and secondary sources. The survey research design and pre-test test reliability testing of the questionnaire were adopted. A multiple regression analyses technique using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) was adopted to determine the significant effect of the rail transportation operations on food security in Eastern Nigeria. The study found that there is a threat of food insecurity resulting from higher cost of transporting agricultural products by road. Train services in the south east at the moment are only limited to Portharcourt in Rivers state and Aba in Abia State while Enugu which is the administrative headquarters only coordinates operations without enjoying the actual rail services. Rail transport services that are supposed to transport surplus agricultural products from the northern part of the country including Maiduguri and Makurdi to the south eastern corridor are non-existent. The study recommends the extension of the revitalisation of rail infrastructure to the south east, allow private sector funding, the rehabilitation of the existing narrow gauge eastern rail lines in the interim to enable it resume services covering Portharcourt to Maiduguri in the north east. This will go a long way to eliminating the high cost of road transport and force down food prices in the region. Keywords: Security, Rail Transport Operations, Infrastructure, Agricultural Products, Rehabilitation Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 271 Introduction The availability of food in the right quantity and quality is as essential as the supply of oxygen that supports and sustains the life of a population. Food security is as fundamental as the security of lives and property and cannot be overemphasized and necessary in the quest to attain every other form of security. Man needs food for survival, healthy living, production of goods and services, ethical conducts and preserving integrity particularly in the face of diverse temptation and pressure; thus a hungry population is an insecure population capable of betraying itself for a plate of a slice of bread as survival is the first instinct of man. In modern democratic societies including Nigeria, hunger resulting from food insecurity is a catalyst for vote selling, voters’ gullibility, erosion of societies’ integrity and general apathy to issues of governance. Consequently, a hungry nation is a nation that is prone to multidimensional corruption, poverty and diseases; it suffers from deficit of patriotism, illiteracy, and general insecurity. A hungry nation is a nation that is prone to moral kwashiorkor, political and social malnutrition, brain drain, and risks having a leadership enthroned by a hungry and helpless majority. The challenge of insufficient food in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized and have persisted or even worsened despite myriads of government initiatives and interventions at various levels. The country through successive administrations has developed a number of initiatives and interventions aimed at boosting agricultural production, creating jobs and enhancing food security since gaining political independence in 1960. Among such initiatives were the Operation Feed the Nation (1979), The Green Revolution (1980), and the Food Security Council as attempts to revitalize the nation's agricultural sector. Unfortunately, a lot of these initiatives failed due to many reasons including weak institutions, lack of modern mechanized farming practices, security risks, corruption, and inadequate execution (Abdulwahab, 2020). The situation is further worsened by infrastructural deficit such as poor road network and the absence of a reliable alternative like the rail transport particularly along the eastern corridor thereby exacerbating the food insecurity crises with its concomitant effect on the population along that axis. The place of a reliable, affordable efficient transport system in the food supply chain of any society and the south eastern states are immeasurable. A poor transportation system leads to Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 272 delays, higher costs, and impedes the ability to easily move goods to the final consumers. According to Timothy, et al (2025), poor road conditions, inadequate rural transport systems, and congestion in the country constitute significant barriers to the successful flow of goods, particularly in rural and urban areas. This study is to create awareness on the prevalence and hazards of food insecurity in the South Eastern States of Enugu, Abia and Portharcourt in Rivers State which are all along the southern axis of eastern railway corridor much of which is necessitated by infrastructural deficit like the dilapidated railway infrastructure which runs through Borno, Benue, and Enugu and terminates at Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. It is also aimed at identifying the negative effect on food security and to proffer solutions that would add to knowledge and improve the living condition of the affected populace. Rail transport provides a cheaper and safer alternative in the food distribution supply chain across the globe when compared to road transport with a higher propensity for accidents and air pollution resulting from fumes emitted by articulated and other vehicles; road congestions, extortions by some corrupt security operatives and general delays. Statement of the problem Nigeria’s poor infrastructure and continuous reliance on subsistence farmers for food supply have exposed its citizens to food insecurity. The country ranked 113th out of 195 countries with a score of 25 points, indicating a serious problem with food affordability in the nation. This was one of the four pillars of food security for 2022. Nigeria is ranked 26th in the region and 108th in the world for food availability (Global Food Security Index, 2022). Available data released by Nigeria’s own National Bureau of Statistics revealed that 133 million Nigerians were estimated to be multidimensional poor based on four indicators: employment, health care, education, and food security (NBS, 2022). The sudden rise in the prices of foodstuff occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal government has further worsened the food crisis. The Food and Agriculture Organization (2023) reported that Nigeria has reached an unacceptably high food consumption threshold as a result of a notable increase in the price of staple foods that followed increases in fuel prices, inflation, and the high cost of food production. Consequently, Nigeria’s food inflation rate rose to 35.4% in January 2024, on a year on year basis, which was 11.10% point higher compared to the rate recorded in January 2023, 24.32 % (NBS, 2024), and the south eastern states were no exception. Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 273 The problems of the Eastern Railway are not entirely different from the general challenges of the entire Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). However, there are both historical and geographical factors that make the experience of the South Eastern Railway different. For instance, from the middle of the 1970’s, there was growing decline in the performance of the Nigerian railway system until it almost grinded to a halt for many obvious reasons including competition from road transport for goods and passengers, steady decline in the production of the traditional export commodities handled by the railway as well as the deterioration of the railway transport services which had become slow, unreliable and grossly inadequate (Onokala, 2015). The eastern district of the Nigerian Railway Corporation was equally impacted by this general decline in the performance of NRC. Besides, the south eastern district has a peculiar history of being situated at the epicenter of the nation’s bloody three year civil war. The impact of the Nigerian civil war affected the general output of the Nigerian Railways years after the war. About 6,000 employees of various skills lost their jobs during the war. This made the railway lack skilled manpower some years after the war. Besides, the rolling stock of the railway was extensively depleted. The few existing stocks were generally inadequate for the needs of the industry. They were partly obsolete for the functions they had to perform (Ujam, 1997). This devastated the Eastern railway operations. Another challenge that must not be ignored is the frequent vandalism of railway facilities which is common occurrence along the eastern rail line. According to Adeeyinwo (2018), the Corporation recorded a lot of vandalism within Isiagu-Uzuakoli-Mbaeke-Umuhia sections and Emene-Ogui-Ogbete sections of the eastern corridors. He confirmed that in some places, a whole rail track line, which includes the rail slippers, clips, bolts and long iron bars are completely removed by the vandals. The state of the Eastern railway is pathetic. Customers who had long enjoyed cheap and safe transport provided by it had no alternative than change to road transport which was expensive, though faster. There is no doubt that the amount spent on road transport (which could otherwise be made less by rail) increased the price of goods purchased in Eastern Nigeria - both local and foreign (Ujam, 1997). The Eastern railway is still enmeshed in the afore-stated problems as evident in the available facilities in its rail network. The few available coaches still run on narrow gauge, and the station buildings remain the old colonial relics constructed in the 1920s. Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 274 Statement of the Hypothesis: In line with the objectives of this study, the researcher raised and tested one hypothesis, which is: Ho. There is no significant effect of rail transportation operations on food security along the south eastern rail corridor. Conceptual Clarification Food Security The concept of food security is an academic attempt by man to give meaning, clarity and precision to a phenomenon that transcends generations and has no borders or residence. Food security was defined then at the World Food Conference in 1974 as “availability at all times of adequate world food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and to offset fluctuations in production and prices” (United Nations, 1975). The United Nation’s (UN) Food and Agricultural Organisation (2002), posited that there is food security when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences to lead an active and healthy life. The (FAO, 2008) have identified four dimensions of food security: 1. Availability of food produced locally and imported from abroad. 2. Accessibility. The food can reach the consumer (transportation infrastructure) and the consumer has enough money for purchase. 3. Utilization. The individual deserves to eat adequate amounts both in quantity and quality in order to live a healthy and full life to realize his or her potential. 4. Stability. The 4th domain deals with the ability of the nation/community/ (household) person to withstand shocks to the food chain system whether caused by natural disasters or those that are man-made. Berry, et al (2015) postulated that food security is access of all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life. The FAO (1996) captured it as when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. It is evident from the foregoing that the central notion around the concept of food security includes food availability, affordability, sustainability, safety, preservation and sufficiency to those who need it, at all times and places irrespective of seasons or climate change shocks. Jaekel, (1997) argues that an efficient NRC will act as an aid to the development of other sectors such as agriculture, mineral resources, tourism and manufacturing, through the effective Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 275 transportation of people and goods throughout the country, to and from the seaports and linking companies with the outside world. Fawole, et al (2015) views poor agricultural development and urbanization as being among the causes of food insecurity; adding that the problem of food insecurity must be seen as a security threat not only to the country but also to the continent as a whole. And poor or inefficient transport system ultimately bears a negative impact on the food supply chain of every society, including Nigeria. Theoretical Framework This study adopted the spatial interaction theory which refers to the flow of goods, people, services, information, or ideas between locations in geographical space. The theory is grounded in the assumption that interaction is influenced by three key factors: complementarity, transferability, and intervening opportunities (Ullman, 1956): Complementarity presupposes that the demand in one place is the supply in another. Transferability refers to the ease of movement (cost, time, technology). Agricultural surplus in one region interacts with urban demand in another if transportation allows (transferability) and if no closer alternatives exist (intervening opportunities). Intervening Opportunities here is the availability of closer or more accessible alternatives such roads, rail, pipelines, ports and air transport that may reduce interaction with farther places. The theory explains how distance, accessibility, and opportunities influence human and economic connections across space. The expansion of railroads, highways, and ports in the 20th century reinforced spatial interaction by reducing transport costs and enhancing agricultural trade. Thus, Spatial Interaction Theory provides a historical and theoretical lens for understanding how transportation systems condition agricultural production, trade, and food security by shaping the spatial connections between farm regions and the markets where produce get to the final consumers. When applied to rail transportation and agriculture, the theory explains how agricultural products move from rural areas or from farms to urban markets, and how rail transportation networks facilitate or constrain these flows between supply and demand. Spatial Interaction Theory underpins agricultural supply chain analysis, showing how improved transportation logistics, cold storage, and global trade agreements enhance agricultural flows (Wilson, 1971). Food security, according to the spatial interaction theory depends on availabilityease of reaching the markets where they are needed; accessibility- Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 276 how well can rural farmers access markets which boast their incentive to produce more; affordability – high road transport cost are passed unto consumers thereby reducing the quantity and quality of their consumption; and stability – impacted by instability in distribution occasioned by cases of flood, fuel scarcity and insecurity at the farms. These ripple effects are further exacerbated by a broken rail system in the south eastern rail corridor. An inefficient or non-functional rail transport system disrupts the flow of agricultural products, leads to increased transport cost and post-harvest losses caused by delays in the distribution chain, reduced food availability and higher prices which metamorphosed into food insecurity in South Eastern Nigeria. Methodology The survey research design was adopted for this study. The estimated population of Enugu North Local Government Area, where the South Eastern railway headquarters is domiciled is 347,500 (NBS, 2022). Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State is one of the twenty four local Government Areas of the state with an estimated population of 774,600 (NBS, 2022) giving a combined total of 1,083,500. These include traversed districts and communities of the two local government areas such as: Artisan Quarters, Enugu North L.G.A., Ogbete Area, Enugu North L. G. A., Okpara Avenue, Enugu North L.G.A., Station Road, Port Harcourt L.G.A., Fruit Garden, by D-Line, Port Harcourt L.G.A., The combined total of 1,122,100 represents the target population of this study. Four hundred (400), being the sample size of this study was arrived at using Yamane sample size calculation formula: n = the sample size N = Population size e = the acceptable sampling error n = 1,122,100 = 399.86 = 400 respondents 1+1,122,100(0.052) To give each member of the population an opportunity to be selected and to eliminate bias, this study employed the cluster random sampling technique. Data were obtained from both secondary and primary sources. The primary sources of data included questionnaires and oral interviews. A two stage cluster was employed with the study area segmented into clusters representative of the population in the affected routes of both Enugu North Local Government Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 277 Area and Portharcourt Local Government Area. Respondents were randomly selected from each of the clusters in the two local governments. Analysis: This study adopted a multiple regression analyses technique using ordinary least squares (OLS) to determine the significant impact of the rail transportation operations on food security in Eastern Nigeria. All completed questionnaires were received by hand either directly by the researcher or via the services of research assistants. Gender distribution of respondents Table1. GENDER FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE MALE 187 46.8 FEMALE 213 53.2 TOTAL 400 100.0 Source: Field Survey, May, 2024 Rail Transportation Operations has no significant effect on Food Security Table 2: Regression for the Hypothesis Independent variable Dependent Variable Coefficient pvalue fstats pvalue R2 RTO FOS -0.0631 0.000 9.43 0.000 0.964 Source: Field Survey, May, 2024 Journal of Education, Communication, and Digital Humanities -Vol.2, No.1, Sept. 2025 pg. 278 Table 3: Descriptive Statistics for the Variables Stats FOS RTO Mean 4.03 3.45 p50 3 3 D 0.67 0.54 Min 1 2 Max 5 5 Skewness -0.58 -0.34 Kurtosis 2.51 2.90 N 400 400 On table 3 above, the mean value is 4.03, median 3, minimum and maximum are 1 and 5 respectively and standard deviation 0.67. There is no indication of outliers. Finally, for Rail Transportation Operations (RTO) of Public sector agencies in eastern rail corridor, the mean value is 3.45, median 3, minimum and maximum 2 and 5 respectively and standard deviation is 0.54 with no indication of outliers. The skewedness statistics which was used to show the direction of the normal distribution curve showed that FOS and RTO both had a negative distribution and are tailed to the left-hand side of the normal distribution curve. Their skewedness values gave -0.58 and -0.34 respectively. The hypotheses of the study have been tested and result extracted indicates that the statistical decision rule of pvalue states that the Null hypothesis should be accepted if Pvalue is greater than alpha value (i.e. level of significant which is 0.05) otherwise it should be rejected while the Alternative hypothesis is adopted. The study found a negative and significant effect of Rail Transportation Operations (RTO) on Food Security (FOS) with a coefficient value of 0.0631, and p-value < 0.05 at 0.000, disagreeing with the null hypotheses of the study which states that there is no significant effect of Rail Transportation Operations on Food Security. This result implies that the present RTOs negatively affect FOS and significantly. In other words, continuation of the present state of