Nigeria: Message to South Korea

[Baer]

At 0800 the next morning president Acho and his staff would hold a brief meeting with Minister Bonny, and newly appointed Director of Infrastructure and Development, Ben Banogu. They would just have coffee and fruit and go over notes from the night before. President Acho emphasizes, although he is proud of all of their work, this is just the opening the, "Time trail stage, like in the Tour de France." But this is not a race. This is partnership with the Koreans. What I mean by using that poor analogy, is we must be as detailed as when plotting out how a team manages that race."

As it nears 0900, the Nigerian and Korean security staff, now dressed more casually and appearing, in slacks and polo shirts start, and appearing friendly with one another, mill around awaiting the entrance of the Korean delegation.

Jay

 

[Jay]

Chief Secretary Han and Minister Park would be waiting as the Nigerian delegation arrived. Minister Park would confirm items in his inbox and respond to emails as he waited for the Nigerians to arrive. Going over proposals over tea, the two Koreans chatted on some policy items.

Baer

 

[Baer]

President Acho and Minister Bonny would see Chief Secretary Han and Minister Park in the hallway and go up and greet them, hearty handshakes all around. President Acho says to Secretary Han, "Hope you slept well and do not mind a working breakfast." He puts his hand on Han's shoulder as he leads the group to the dining room. "Seems things are going well in Jeju, Minister Han. I hope we can make some news here as well."

President Acho then pulls out a chair at a large circular table, "Here please sit next to me." At the table are assorted plates of deli meats and rolls and croissants and bowls of assorted fruits and yogurt and jugs of water and orange juice. A waiter pours coffee after all of the gentleman have been seated.

Some smartly dressed waiters then bring in several plates of piping hot dodo, fried plantains. "Dodo is a traditional Nigerian breakfast dish, " Acho announces.

"I trust you gentleman have had some time to discuss our proposals?"

Jay

 

[Baer]

Jay

 

[Jay]

Chief Secretary Han: "Thank You President Acho. We believe firmly that development must be in the hands of the Nigerian people. Unlike Swedish policies of colonialism and controlling Africa, Korea rejects such barbaric practices. Our desires are to build infrastructure that is useful to the Nigerian people and in line with your beautiful motto. The Korean Development Bank had previously been issuing multi-million dollar grants to multiple countries. We have overseen women's education and female empowerment in Pakistan with a multi-million dollar grant, education and youth empowerment in Thailand with educational exchanges, and developmental assistance for Indonesia. The KOICA, our primary agency responsible for developmental projects is currently apart of over $5 billion in developmental projects in Vietnamese cities.

As you know, the rebuilding of the country such as Nigeria is no easy task and one that requires extensive funding and assistance. Assistance which we are eager to provide. We would be happy to take on the projects including a National Railway Project and a Highway and Roads Revitalization Project. My first question would be what are the purposes of these two projects. Is the goal to improve infrastructure or build new ones. Is the goal to make transportation more efficient or to connect cities and small towns together. Do you wish to changes to be aimed at economic expansion in connecting agricultural centers to the urban centers or in improving movement for a wide-array of goods. Do you want high-speed railways or freight-train railways. Should the roads be durable for heavy truck transportation or be more aimed at wider usage for motor vehicles."

Baer

 

[Baer]

"With the National Railway Project the goal is to replace our decrepit and decaying railway with a modern one that will connect all of our major cities with the capital and with Lagos. Our trains and related equipment are obsolete. Currently train service from Lagos to Kano takes 31 hours. As far as HSR, no we are not interested in that at the time. We are looking for a dual track system with trains that can average 120km and hour.

Not only will the National Railway project will connect our major cities with efferent cost affective service, but it will create thousands of temporary and permanent jobs. Even temporary jobs such as construction workers, they will be learning new skills that be applied later in life towards other professions. Not too mention, the permanent jobs, such as conductors, ticket collectors, engineers, maintenance workers etcetera.

An efficient will help the economy grow as it will be easier for people to travel as well as with a Light Transport rail but with also supply trains that can move goods more efferently, especially to and from our cities and ports.

We are seeking your expertise in how to design, construct and maintain a modern railway network. The goals are the same with the National Highway Project. As stated, our goal is to make all major highways between large cities Asphaltic Concrete Roads of three to two lanes and Surfaced Dressed in smaller Municipalities.
Asphaltic Concrete Roads will be durable for heavy truck transportation, even for emergency aircraft landing. Surfaced dressed roads can still also handle heavy truck transport. Super highways between major cities with three to four lanes and surfaced dressed roads of two lanes each, in each direction."

President Acho would then show a few slides on the screen of what he intended to do.







"This is what we aspire, too."

Jay