President Buhari Thursday inaugurated the commercial
operations of Lagos-Ibadan railway at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway Station,
Ebute Meta, Lagos.
He described the feat ‘‘as another milestone in the drive of
this Administration to revitalise the railway system and establish it as a
choice mode of transportation for both passengers and freight.’’
The President pledged that his administration would continue
to prioritise the railway system as a transportation backbone that can
transform industrial and economic activities in the country.
On the benefits of the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as well as
other on-going railway projects across the country, President Buhari said:
‘‘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.
‘‘In clear recognition of the challenges posed to our
economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, we have in
the rail sector, further to other ongoing railway infrastructure projects,
embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of the Lagos – Kano
railway, which is Ibadan – Kano.
‘‘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.
‘‘This would be beneficial to the economy through employment
from new business opportunities and wealth creation.’’
The President expressed delight that his directive to the
Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance on reaching
financial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to partner with the Federal
Government for the development of the Ibadan – Kano railway was yielding
results.
He noted that Ibadan-Kano project would have a connection to
the Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line from Lagos
to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.
‘‘From the beginning of this administration, railway
infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves and various
milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja – Kaduna railway was
flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016 to this Lagos – Ibadan railway
project being commissioned today for full commercial operation,’’ he said.
Commending the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi,
for his drive and tenacity in achieving the milestone recorded today, the
President praised the ‘‘wonderful team in the Ministry’’ for a job well done.
Shortly after he inaugurated the project, President Buhari
took a ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light (ENL), Terminal,
Apapa Port, Lagos.
He was joined by the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governors of Ekiti,
Oyo, Ogun and the Deputy Governor of Ondo, the Minister of Transportation, the
Minister of State Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, other Ministers as
well as some government officials.
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