Buhari Commissions Abuja-Kaduna Rail

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the first phase of the
Abuja-Kaduna Standards Rail Gauge with a pledge to ensuring that the
country has a working rail system.

Towards this end, his administration would pursue a 25-Year Strategic
Railway Master Plan which is aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505km
narrow gauge rail line as well as constructing new standard gauge rail
lines across the country.

Though conceptualized by the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in
2006, the actual execution of the project started in 2009 under the regime
of the administration of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Buhari said the
completion and commissioning of the project marked a major milestone in
the annals of the country.

According to Buhari, “The construction of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge
rail track commenced in 2009 and happily, seven years after, we are on the
threshold of presenting to Nigerians a Standard Gauge Railway Train
Service that will be safe, fast and reliable.

“The train service will provide the much needed alternative transport link
between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, a corridor which
has a huge potential for industries, agricultural activities, and a
growing labour force.

“This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the
last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it.”

The President recalled that between 1963 and early 1980s, Nigeria had a
vibrant rail system which conveyed agricultural, livestock and solid
mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt sea ports from where they
were exported.

“It is our vision and hope that those good old days will soon be back with
us and indeed in a more prosperous way with the restoration of rail
transport system which today’s occasion,” he said.

He commended the Minister of Transportation Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi and
his team to have put great efforts in the last few months towards ensuring
the successful completion of this project under the present
administration.

Buhari noted that the commissioning of the project was in line with the
vision of bringing about the desired change to make life easier for the
generality of Nigerians through the development and provision of the
necessary social and physical infrastructure.

“In this regard, I wish to assure Nigerians that most State capitals and
major commercial and production centres will be linked with railway system
as a way of bringing about rapid socio-economic development and improving
the quality of life of the Nigerians and promoting social and regional
integration.

“Furthermore, I wish to also reassure Nigerians that due attention will be
placed on pursuing the 25-Year Strategic Railway Master Plan which is
aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505km narrow gauge rail line and
developing and constructing new standard gauge rail lines across the
country.

“As we celebrate the symbolic return of rail service today I wish to
reiterate the commitment of this Administration to pursue with greater
vigour and determination rehabilitation and construction of other rail
lines including the major Lagos-Calabar and Kano-Lagos lines.

“As we get down to work, I look forward to flagging off many more lines
outlined in our transport policy programme.” Buhari said.

Former FCT Minister and Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, under
whom the project was initiated lamented that the project which was
intended to be completed in only four years had to be abandoned because
the subsequent governments were not interested in it.

He said it was regrettable that only a portion of the project that was to
cost N8 billion was commissioned 10 years down the line. But he commended
President Buhari for buying into the vision of the Obasanjo administration
in providing a cheaper and more affordable means of transportation to the
teeming Nigerian population by revisiting the project.

FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, in his welcome remarks, said the
completion and commissioning of the project would mark a complete
turnaround in the economic lives of residents of the Territory, who are
the immediate beneficiary of the project.

The minister assured that the Abuja intercity rail project being executed
by the FCT was 77 percent completed, assuring that by December 2017, the
project would be completed and commissioned.