Building Bornu extension of Nigerian Railway from Kuru to Maiduguri, Northern Region, Nigeria

Original title reads, "Rail laying crew building the Bornu extension of the Nigerian Railway system, which will go from Kuru, on the present system, 402 miles to Maiduguri. Work was begun August 27, 1958 and completion is expected in 1963. The project is of great importance because it will permit tapping the vast agricultural potential of the north-east part of the country, and will stimulate demand for consumer goods in that area. In the picture side panels are dropped on wagons and workers shovel ballast off the two wagons onto the ground. Workers are mostly Hausa, with some Shoshu. Men earn three shillings a day for this work." [Elisofon field notes, August 1959-December 1959]

This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.