President Mohammed Bazoum of Niger Republic has expressed
appreciation to the President, Muhammadu Buhari, for
approving the $1.96 billion Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project.
The Nigerien leader, who was on State Visit to Nigeria, made
the commendation after a closed-door bilateral talks with Buhari in the
Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Buhari had, in February 2021, performed the ground-breaking
ceremony of the Kano–Dutse–Katsina–Maradi 284 kilometer rail project connecting
Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic.
The project, approved by the Federal Executive Council in
September 2020, was believed to be crucial to rail development in Nigeria and
in the West African sub-region.
It was being executed by Mota-Engil Group, a multinational
engineering, and construction company.
The project, with 15 stations along the corridor, would
boost socio-economic activities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa States in Nigeria,
as well as Maradi in Niger Republic.
Bazoum said, “On economic issues, we discussed the
Kano-Katsina-Maradi railway project and this project is an infrastructure that
will integrate the economies of Nigeria and Niger.
“And so, I’m here to thank President Buhari for his efforts
at ensuring that this project has taken off and I hope that it will be
sustained because this project will radically change the trading exchange
between the two countries.
“We also spoke about
the gas pipeline in the sense that gas and oil have now become an issue in
world politics, in the world economy.”
He also lauded Nigeria for leading the way in funding
activities of the Multi-National Joint Task Force, currently maintaining
security in the Lake Chad Basin.
“My visit coincides with the very big operation that is
taking place jointly today in the Lake Chad Basin region against the
terrorists, and this big operation is being conducted by MNJTF – the
Multinational Joint Task Force.
“And as you will know very well, the operations of the
Multinational Joint Task Force is funded almost entirely by Nigeria. And this
operation is meant to help in providing security challenges that both of our
countries are facing.
“I want to reiterate my recommendation and thanks to
President Buhari, who, because of his support, this operation is going on and
will be very much continuing in future,” he said.
The Nigerien leader expressed optimism that Nigeria and
Niger Republic would continue to promote ties in the areas of security and
economic development.
It was gathered that the visiting Nigerien leader was also
hosted to a lunch by Buhari shortly after their bilateral engagement.
NAN
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