FUEL SCARCITY: I WILL SOON EXPOSE CABALS, SAYS BUHARI
He also spoke on his administration’s plan to build rail and road networks across the country, explaining that the improved road and rail network will help the country to “achieve global economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.”
Buhari said work is already on-going in the Lagos-Kano Standard Gauge Railway, stressing that the rail line, which is projected to reach Ibadan from Lagos at the end of 2019, will carry two million people and five million tons of cargo yearly.
In the same vein, he said work will commence on the Kano–Kaduna segment of the rail line this year and will be completed at the end of 2019, adding that the two segments of the rail line will be joined by end of 2021, linking the South-North trading route.
The President disclosed that he has directed that negotiation for the construction of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri line, which will transverse through Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Damaturu, be completed by the first part of the year.
He listed other rail projects which include the Abuja to Itakpe line which will go through Baro and terminate in Warri with construction of a new seaport in the town, stating that the already functional Abuja– Kaduna rail will be boosted by the addition of more rolling stock on Thursday.
“Negotiations are also advanced for the construction of other railway lines, firstly from Kano to Maradi in Niger Republic passing through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, Jibia to Maradi. “Secondly, Lagos to Calabar the “Coastal Rail” through Ore, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Sapele, Ughelli, Warri, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and Calabar”.
“In the next few years, all these Nigerian cities will be linked by functional modern rail systems, giving enormous boost to the social and economic life of our people. With respect to the Abuja Capital Light Rail, progress has reached 98 per cent completion, as at 64 per cent completion when we assumed office. Only test runs remain before start of operations’, he said
“This train service will stimulate economic activities in the Federal Capital and provide residents with an efficient and safe transportation system. Twelve railway sub-stations around the capital over a 45.2 kilometre route will serve as a catalyst and a pull factor to the economy of the area. The Light Rail System will reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission in line with the Administration’s policy on climate change,” Buhari said.
