President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja directed the Ministries of
Transportation and Finance to conclude financial arrangements with
appropriate co-financiers that will partner with the Federal Government
f0r construction of West-East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar,
linking some major cities in South East and South South.
Speaking at the virtual groundbreaking ceremony for the
Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi Rail Line, the President said the West-East
Coastal rail line will connect Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenegoa, Port
Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.
“Furthermore, the contract for the important Central Railway traversing
Itakpe – Baro – Abuja with connection to Lokoja and a new seaport in
Warri has been signed and is expected to achieve appreciable level of
completion during the tenure of this administration,” the President
said.
President Buhari noted that the cities of Jibiya and Maradi constitute a
significant trading core between Nigeria and Niger Republic – a
tradition dating back many centuries.
“This vital infrastructure line will establish an end-to-end logistic
supply chain in railway transport services between Northern and Southern
regions of the country, reaching Nigerian southern ports of Lagos and
Warri.
“The entire route encompasses territory inhabited by close to 80 million
people across 10 states of the country. This project has a branch line
to Dutse the capital of Jigawa State to open up this corridor which is
endowed with vast resources.”
He said the Kano–Maradi rail line has been identified as a viable line
that will significantly enhance the movement of passengers and freight
to the hinterland especially raw materials from both agricultural and
mineral resources for our industries.
“The rail line traverses the major commercial and administrative centre
of Kano and passing through other economic hubs of the country including
Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the
Niger Republic city of Maradi., ” the President stated.
He said Kano-Maradi project, when completed, would serve import and
export of goods for Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region
through Nigerian ports.
“The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce,
while the people of Niger Republic will benefit from ease of
transportation logistics at affordable cost in their import and export
business.
“The connection to Niger Republic through rail will also foster
Trans-Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African
Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.”
President Buhari commended the construction company handling the
project, Messrs Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited, for supporting knowledge and
technology transfer by investing in the establishment of a learning
Institution for Transportation and Railway Science.
“We have in the rail sector embarked on the completion of the 1,424
Kilometer Lagos – Kano rail line to join the one being flagged-off today
for the country’s Western axis.
“On the Eastern corridor of the country, the Port Harcourt – Enugu –
Makurdi – Maiduguri rail line with branches to Owerri, Imo State and
Damaturu, Yobe State, have been awarded for reconstruction to include a
deep sea port in Bonny Island and a Railway Industrial Park in Port
Harcourt with the objectives of achieving a vibrant and functional
railway.”
In his remarks, the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari,
appreciated the President for bringing the life-long dream of the state
to reality with inclusion on the Kano-Maradi rail line.
Governor Masari, accompanied by the Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje
and Jigawa, Badaru Abubakar, urged the Minister of Transportation,
Rotimi Amaechi, to work towards completion and commissioning of the
project by 2023.
The Minister of Transportation said the feasibility study for the
Kano-Maradi railway started in 2012, and was concluded by 2015, thanking
the President for support and regular intervention.