By; FUNMI OROYE ADERINTO, Kaduna
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday reassured Nigerians that he is strongly committed to linking all major commercial and production centres as well as state capitals with railway systems as a way of bringing about rapid socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of the citizens and promoting national integration in the country.
Muhammadu Buhari said this during the launching of the two new standard gauge locomotives and 10 new standard gauge executive passenger coaches for the Kaduna – Abuja train service on January 4, 2018 held in Rigasa, Kaduna State.
He recalled when he commissioned and flagged-off the Abuja-Kaduna train service for both Passenger and Freight in July, 2016 which was Nigeria’s first ever Standard Gauge train service.
He said he was glad that this service has become very useful to commuters and has since become the preferred mode of transport for the journey between Abuja and Kaduna.
According to him, “we are today launching and commissioning two additional locomotives and 10 additional passenger coaches to improve the service. At the same time we are flagging-off the other leg of the journey. Trains are scheduled to take off at the same time from both Kaduna and Abuja”.
The President said, the Itakpe to Warri standard gauge central line is expected to be commissioned by July this year and the extension from Itakpe to Abuja is being pursued vigorously.
He expressed that, this is a way of encouraging private sector participation in rail development, adding that negotiation for concession of the narrow gauge railways with a consortium led by General Electric is in progress.
“We are looking forward to a more efficient rail service on the narrow gauge lines to be driven by the private sector”.
He maintained that, as a benchmark which we are using to measure the performance of our administration. Our resolve to develop our rail system to a world class standard remains.
He solicited the support of all relevant stakeholders especially the National Assembly and development partners in realizing this objective.
He disclosed that critical projects he is particularly keen to starting include the Coastal Rail line (Lagos-Calabar) with branches to Benin, Agbor and Onitsha; Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Standard guage rail line with branches to Owerri, Awka, Abakaliki, Yola and Damaturu; and Kano – Kazaure – Daura – Katsina – Jibiya to link with Maradi in Niger Republic as part of regional railway interconnectivity in the ECOWAS sub-region.
“The Lagos to Ibadan segment of the Lagos to Kano double track standard gauge rail line project is targeted to be completed by the end of the year”.
“Other supporting projects which have been approved are the procurement of more locomotives, coaches, wagons, workshops and equipment that will be used for new standard gauge lines”, he said.
He restated their resolve to vigorously pursue rail development in Nigeria through the implementation of the 25-Year Strategic Railway Master Plan.
He commended the great efforts and hard work of the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and his team for ensuring that they realize their objective of providing a functional and efficient rail system to Nigerians.
Earlier in a opening remarks, the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi said that the Federal Government was determined that all parts of the country will be linked to rail lines to ease transport problems.
He said, additional coaches and locomotives will soon arrive the country.
