Minister of Transportation, Senator Said Alkali, says the new Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line will be ready soon.
He said the rail project would be completed on time and meet the highest international standards.
According to him, the rail network is a clear testament to the current administration’s commitment to infrastructural development, economic growth, and national cohesion.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by the Special Assistant (Public Affairs) to the minister, Jamilu Ja’afaru.
The minister said upon completion of the rail line, Nigerians would enjoy good trade, access market, and business places easily, and also boost agricultural production and its movement.
The minister noted that the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line is not just a transportation project but a transformation project.
He said: “It is about the movement of goods, people, and opportunities. It is about connecting Nigeria and driving growth.
“The 1,657km rail network, cutting across 13 states; Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Borno, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Adamawa promises to unlock unprecedented benefits.
“In Rivers State, the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line will boost the state’s status as a major hub for commerce and trade, connecting it to key economic centres across the country.
“Abia, known for its vibrant commerce and industry, will enjoy improved business linkages, bolstering local industries and empowering small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The line will also stimulate agricultural productivity in states like Benue, known as Nigeria’s “food basket”, providing farmers with better access to markets, reducing post-harvest losses, and fostering rural development while Nasarawa and Plateau will reap the benefits in terms of easier movement of mineral resources, thereby boosting mining activities.
“In the North-East, atates like Bauchi, Gombe, and Borno will benefit significantly as the rail line would facilitate the quick and cost-effective movement of goods and people, fostering social integration, economic growth, and the much-needed post-insurgency reconstruction in the region.”
He added that Akwa Ibom and Cross River would witness enhanced tourism potential, with easier access to their rich cultural heritage and beautiful landscapes while Ebonyi and Adamawa states would also benefit from improved trade and commerce, fostered by the efficient transportation of goods and services.”
