There are no railway lines in the Niger Republic.
None
Niger is one of the few nations on earth with no rail lines. Look at Map, note where Niamey the economic capital is and where Maradi are, we will come to this later
There are 2 "nations" in West Africa, the "English" and "French"
The "French" do everything together, use the same currency, observe siesta, have Gendarmeries.
The "English"? not so much.
Look at the proposed rail line in West Africa, notice how it links French West Africa
The Project is called the Blue Line
Financed by French billionaire Vincent Bollore, cost about 2.5b Euros.
Three French banks BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Credit Agricole and Goldman Sachs are financing.
Notice how "English" Ghana is left out.
It's "French" first.
Look at existing lines
The line from Bamako (French) goes to Dakar (French)
the Like from Ouagadougou (French) goes to Abidan (French)
Why? it is one currency, once Central Bank, one language, it is easier, It's just economics.
(sorry Ghana, nothing personal)
In 2013, Nigeria's strategic rail plan below, Yellow means new"
Nigeria planned four major Standard Guage (SG) rail projects
1. Lagos to Calaber, Enugu
2. Lagos to Kano modernization
3. Zaria to Sokoto
4. Lagos to Abuja
Of these 4, none has started save Lagos to Ibadan SG
Kano to Maradi rail line was not planned, yet I quote the transport minister "We are going to do the $1.98bn rail at our own cost"
The Minister says if Nigeria builds a rail to Niger at $2b, Niger will use Lagos ports. in essence, "French" will use "English" ports.
The Minister does not understand the "France"
In 2019, the China National Petroleum Corporation and the Republic of Niger signed to build a new crude oil export pipeline from Agadem to the Atlantic coast in the Benin Republic. Notice how the pipeline bypasses "English" Nigeria.
The question is why borrow $1.98b to "attract" Niger Republic to Lagos ports?
The total annual exports from the Niger Republic do not exceed $1.2b.
Should this take priority over a railway from Lagos to the East of Nigeria? Will the Niger Republic abandon the blue line?
Economics is about choices.
Choices, because resources are scarce, so you do a Scale of Preference. Where will Kano to Maradi fall on a scale of preference in Nigeria?
The problem is not revenues, it's spending
PS
What does Niger export?
Uranium
Who uses Uranium? France for her nuclear plants. France is powered by nuclear.
You want the French to move a strategic resource through a nation that can wake up and fine the train for not paying VAT? Or blow it up?
Same for oil
But go on
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