Calabar Monorail
{{Short description|Rail transportation}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name = Calabar Monorail
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| type = Monorail
| system =
| status = Abandoned
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| stations = 3
| routes = 1
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| open = 2016
| close = 2017
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| linelength = {{convert|1.1|km|mi}}{{cite web | url=https://www.intamintransportation.com/project/calabar/ | title=Calabar }}
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The Calabar Monorail is an abandoned{{cite web | url=https://wevegoneonholidaybymistake.com/2019/07/06/nollywood-film-studio-nigeria/ | title=Nigeria - an Abandoned Nollywood Film Studio » We've gone on holiday by mistake! | date=6 July 2019 }} monorail system in Calabar, state capital of Cross River state, Nigeria. The single-track, {{convert|1.1|km|mi}} line runs from the Calabar International Convention Centre to the Tinapa Resort.{{Cite web|title=Buhari To Commission Calabar Monorail|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2016/05/24/buhari-to-commission-calabar-monorail/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Channels Television|date=24 May 2016 }}{{Cite web|date=2016-08-19|title=12-car Calabar monorail ready for Inauguration|url=https://t.guardian.ng/news/12-car-calabar-monorail-ready-for-inauguration/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}} The project was initiated by the former governor of Cross River state, Senator Liyel Imoke and completed by successor Benedict Ayade.{{Cite web|date=2016-05-24|title=Ayade's 1yr in office: Buhari to commission Calabar Monorail|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/ayades-1yr-in-office-buhari-to-commission-calabar-monorail/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
Facilities
The Calabar Monorail is an Intamin P8 shuttle with 12 cars and a total capacity of 88 passengers.{{Cite web|date=2016-08-20|title=Buhari to inaugurate multi-billion Naira Calabar monorail|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/buhari-to-inaugurate-multi-billion-naira-calabar-monorail/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
After successful trials of the Calabar Monorail, the governor of Cross Rivers state, Benedict Ayade disclosed that there were plans to extend the monorail up to the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar.{{Cite web|date=2015-12-08|title=Ayade to extend Calabar Monorail to airport|url=https://businessday.ng/lagos/article/ayade-to-extend-calabar-monorail-to-airport/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Businessday NG|language=en-US}}
History
The Calabar Monorail project, which is estimated to have cost 5 to 7 billion naira{{cite web | url=https://crossriverwatch.com/2017/09/armored-cable-theft-grounds-calabar-monorail/ | title=Armored Cable Theft Grounds Calabar Monorail }} (US$25-35 million) was inaugurated in 2016 by the Executive President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and this was also to mark a year in office for the governor of Cross Rivers state, Benedict Ayade.{{Cite web|title=Buhari To Commission Calabar Monorail|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2016/05/24/buhari-to-commission-calabar-monorail/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Channels Television|date=24 May 2016 }}{{Cite web|date=2016-08-19|title=12-car Calabar monorail ready for Inauguration|url=https://t.guardian.ng/news/12-car-calabar-monorail-ready-for-inauguration/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2016-05-24|title=Ayade's 1yr in office: Buhari to commission Calabar Monorail|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/ayades-1yr-in-office-buhari-to-commission-calabar-monorail/|access-date=2022-01-09|website=Vanguard News|language=en-US}}
Shortly after inauguration, the monorail was grounded by theft of cable. Tinapa Resort denied reports that thieves had stolen cable from the monorail, stating that it is in "perfect condition" but there is simply no patronage.{{cite web | url=https://www.latestnigeriannews.com/news/4969217/calabar-monorail-in-perfect-condition-but-no-patronage-tinapa-md.html | title=Calabar Monorail in Perfect Condition but No PatronageTinapa MD }} In 2018, Senator Ben Ayade stated that the monorail's total revenue in the year 2017 amounted to only 83,000 naira (US$275) and that "every day it runs from Tinapa to CICC empty".{{cite web | url=https://crossriverwatch.com/2018/11/monorail-generated-only-83000-naira-in-2017-ayade-explains-why-cable-car-and-other-projects-failed/ | title=Monorail Generated Only 83,000 Naira in 2017 – Ayade, Explains Why Cable Car and Other Projects Failed }}