The Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Ameachi has stated that the Federal Government remains committed to the revitalisation of a sustainable and efficient transport sector to promote commerce in the country.
“The first railway contract in the revitalisation policy was awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that is the railway from Lagos to Kano; the next one was awarded by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Lagos to Calabar.
“In all these there were agreements with the Chinese government that there will be counterpart funding of 15 per cent; we did not fulfill these agreements.”
“The only place they tried a bit was the Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, which is yet to be completed; and we are working extremely hard to ensure that between June and July we would commercialise that rail line.”
“That will reduce the challenges of production; to convey goods and services between Kaduna and Abuja.”
“And I assure that, by God’s grace, before the end of the year we would commence work on the Lagos – Kano rail line.”
He added that his ministry would ensure the country’s rail lines were connected to the sea ports in order to reduce the burden on roads and clogging of Lagos ports.
The minister further noted that the Federal Government had commenced negotiation for the completion of the Itakpe-Warri rail line which had been abandoned for more than 32 years
