Niger trades less than $5bn per annum with the world, both imports and exports. That's the TOTAL VALUE of their trade. The most valuable thing in that sum is Uranium, which goes to France. It requires special handling facilities and goes via the port in Cotonou

This is the sum total of the business opportunity which Nigeria is seeking to connect with by investing $2bn in a transformational rail project that will link Kano, Katsina and Jigawa to this great trade emporium.

Meanwhile, Nigeria trades nearly $90bn (both exports and imports) with the world, of which at least $40bn are imports in a good year. Most of those imports are sea bound.

The ports and rail lines in Nigeria are an uncompetitive mess requiring massive investment to overhaul.

Now, maybe I am too clever because I studied business in a school. But let me ask this question to the general public:

Given the above data and you have $2bn to spend today. What would you spend it on?