The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ) , on Tuesday, virtually inaugurated the 326 Km Itakpe -Ajaokuta -Warri rail line for commercial operation and directed the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that all the nation ’ s ports are linked to the rail line .
He listed the ports of origin and destination to be linked to the rail network to include Apapa , Tin Can , Warri , Onne , and Calabar Ports .The presidential aide also quoted the President as saying that he had approved the prioritisation of viable railway routes in the country .
He also directed that the Itakpe -Warri rail line should be extended to the northern region of the country before the expiration of his tenure in 2023 .
The President said , “ Accordingly , I have approved the prioritisation of viable railway routes for either new rail lines or the reconstruction and rehabilitation of some , to achieve effective and efficient train services supporting the country’ s trade and commerce .
“ The railway Infrastructure that I have the honour to commission today is the rail line from Itakpe via the steel town complex of Ajaokuta to Warri , and is an important link for the country ’ s economy as the central rail line .
“ This government has also approved to link this line further from Itakpe to Abuja , thereby , connecting the Northern Zone of the country and also extending southwards to link the Warri Ports . ”
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement titled “ After 30 years in limbo , President Buhari inaugurated 326 Km Itakpe – Ajaokuta -Warri rail line for commercial operation . ”
“ At the virtual opening of the rail line linking Itakpe to Warri , President Buhari directed the Federal Ministry of Transportation to link all the nation ’ s ports of origin and destination – Apapa , Tin Can , Warri , Onne , Calabar Ports – to the rail network in order to significantly improve overall transportation and economic capacities .
“ The President declared that his administration recognised the importance of the railway mode of transportation as a vital backbone to support industrialisation and economic development , ” the statement read .According to the statement , the President expressed confidence that the project , which serves as a vital link of South -South geopolitical zones of the country to the Northern zones , would be completed during the tenure of this administration .
” It will link people across the cultural divides and expand the frontier of trade and commerce , which will lead to better standards of living for our citizens, ” he said .
Buhari enjoined all Nigerians in the transportation industry , especially the railway sub – sector, to continue to support government in its stride to achieve other railway infrastructure projects .
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