By Chidiebere Ugwu
The Federal Government has recently secured financing for the completion of the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge ongoing rail project, Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali, the Minister of Transportation, has said.
Sen. Alkali, who made the disclosure during the commissioning of freight service on narrow gauge from Lagos to Kαnο, also stated that the Federal Government has initiated the construction of another rail project that links Badagry to TinCan and TinCan to Apapa, adding that it will also link Lekki to Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Ode to Kajola which will connect the route from Lagos to Kano and Kano to Maradi.
The Minister noted that the newly commissioned freight service on narrow gauge from Lagos to Kαnο and several others are undertaken under the rail modernization project to accelerate the realization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“It was during such inspection visit that I issued deadline to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to fix the Narrow Gauge from Lagos to Kano into use.
“It is important to put on record that the fixing of the Narrow Gauge for freight from Lagos to Kano was carried out as a quick wins to ensure the restoration of freight operation to the famous city of Kano as commercial nerve of northern Nigeria without interrupting the on going construction of the standard gauge.
“Notwithstanding this laudable initiative, I am pleased to inform you that the construction of Standard Gauge form Lagos to Kano and Kano – Maradi is progressively on going at appreciable speed.
“As a testimony to this reality, the Federal Government has recently secured financing for the completion of the Kaduna Kano Standard Gauge on going rail project. In addition, the Federal Government has initiated the construction of another rail project that links Badagry to TinCan and TinCan to Apapa. It will also link Lekki to Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Ode to Kajola which will connect the route from Lagos to Kano and Kano to Maradi.
“It is worth mentioning that this newly commissioned project and several others mentioned are undertaken under the rail modernization project to accelerate the realization of the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President.
“I therefore, join millions of well meaning Nigerians to commend the giant stride of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in providing all the necessary support to the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other stakeholders towards ensuring the completion of this legacy project which is, by the special grace of God, slated for commissioning today” he said.
Earlier, while speaking at the Kano State Transport Policy Dialogue held in Kano State, Alkali commended the Kano State, Governor, Abba Yusuf for the development of a Transport Policy Document to transform the Transportation Sector of the Center of Commerce to attain heights of maximum productivity and Economic Development.
He said the leadership of Kano State took to heart the resolutions of the recently concluded 18th National Council on Transportation and convened the laudable event.
Senator Alkali said the fundamental goal of the current administration of President Bola Tinubu which is to develop an adequate, safe, secure, smart, environmentally sound, efficient, affordable, sustainable,
preferred and integrated transport system is gradually being actualized.
He said “States such as Lagos and Kano States have become trailblazers as they have recognised the need to provide a blueprint that will serve as a set of principles and ethos to guide their overall decision making for an integrated and functional transport system. ”
The Transportation Minister called on other States in Nigeria to also kick start the development of their own Transport Policy so as to stimulate a well developed Transportation Sector for Nigeria.
He reiterate that the importance of a good and dynamic transport policy lies in its ability to: Promote Economic Growth, Enhance Social Equity, Reduce Environmental Degradation; Improve Safety and Security; Foster Innovation and Technology, and Enhance Quality of Life; among others.
The Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the government has reconstructed numerous roads overhead and under pass bridges thereby reducing the traffic congestion in the cosmopolitan city.
Governor Yusuf believed that reforming the Transportation Sector has become imperative in view of the kano Transport challenges which is akin to Lagos and other emerging Mega cities in the country.
The Governor Represented by his Deputy Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo said, Kano being a commercial hub of Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa requires a comprehensive and integrated approach for the Transportation Sector in order to meet the modern day Transportation reality.
He said, “Kano state Government is committed to Developing a more balanced and sustainable transport systems as encapsulated in it’s transport vision statement.”
The Commissioner for Transportation Muhammad Ibrahim Diggol emphasized that, the Kano Transport dialogue marks a significant step towards shaping the future of Transportation in the state to achieving a multi-modal system in tune with the global best practices.
Diggol said, as cities become the engines of economic growth due to urbanization, they are becoming major contributors to Green House Gas Emissions, congestions and deteriorating air quality.
“This is adversely impacting on the health of the people and constraining economic growth.”
He noted that, the provisions of appropriate transport infrastructures and services determines the safe morbidity of all people and goods and a fundamental factor to sustainable future livelihoods.
The Kano Transport dialogue attracted many key players in the Transportation industry for economic prosperity of the state.
