President Muhamadu Buhari has directed the Ministries of finance and transportation to engage with financiers for the Ibadan Kano rail project.
The President gave the order during the commissioning of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project. While commending the minister of transportation for his resilience which saw the project to a conclusion, he stressed the importance of the project.
“This signals yet another milestone in the drive of this Administration to revitalize the railway system, establish it as a choice mode of transportation for both passengers and freight and position it as a transportation backbone that can transform industrial and economic activity in the country”.
“This vital line establishes an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos – Ibadan, as goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail directly from the Apapa port Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country”.
Buhari also spoke on the importance of the Lagos- Kano rail project:
The Lagos – Kano railway project when completed will link the Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic will be achieved.
The connection through rail would position Nigerian ports as the choice for import and export business of the people of landlocked Niger Republic.
In his speech, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi thanked the President for his support which made the project a reality.He also thanked the China Exim bank for providing financing for the Lagos- Ibadan rail project,he appealed to them to speed up the financing for Ibadan-Kano rail.
On his part, the MD Nigeria railway corporation in his opening address ,Engr Fidet Okhiria described the commissioning as a great and memorable event citing the resources and energy that went into the project. He thanked the President, the Minister of transportation, host governors and the CCECC for making the construction of the standard guage possible.
Royal fathers graced the event led by the representative of the Oba of Lagos,Oba Rilwan Akiolu,also present was the Lake of Egbaland Oba Gbadebo.
Governors present at the event are Chairman governor’s forum Kayode Femi of Ekiti, Seyi Makinde of Ogun state and Dapo Abiodun of Oyo state and the host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state.
.
NewsAnnexOnline 