Abuja-Kaduna rail to handle 1million commuters-Buhari

The Abuja – Kaduna railway service will be
boosted by additional rolling stock on Thursday
and will be able to handle one million commuters
annually, President Muhammadu Buhari has
disclosed.
The President announced this in an address to the
nation in Abuja on Monday to mark the beginning
of 2018.
He also announced that negotiations would be
concluded in the first part of 2018 for the Port
Harcourt to Maiduguri railway line covering Aba,
Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Awka, Abakaliki, Makurdi,
Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and Damaturu.
He said the Abuja to Itakpe railway line would go
through Baro and terminate in Warri with
construction of a new seaport at Warri.
According to the president, negotiations are also
advanced for the construction of other railway
lines, “first 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,’’ he added.
With respect to the Abuja Capital Light Rail, the
president revealed that progress had reached 98
per cent completion, as at 64 per cent completion
when he assumed office.
He stated that only test runs remained before
start of operations, and expressed hope that the
train service would stimulate economic activities
in the federal capital and provide residents with
an efficient and safe transportation system.
He said the 12 railway sub-stations around the
capital over a 45.2 kilometre route would serve as
a catalyst and a pull factor to the economy of the
area.
President Buhari expressed optimism that the
light rail system would reduce traffic congestion
and carbon emission in line with the
administration’s policy on climate change.
On road reconstruction and rehabilitation, the
president stated that the Management of the
Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had
been reconstituted.
He said the agency had been charged with a 12-
week rapid intervention in road repairs to cover
all the geo-political zones.
He further revealed that the Federal Government
had embarked on repairs and maintenance of 44
roads within the six geo-political zones.
President Buhari said that 25 major highways
would be funded under the N100 billion SUKUK
facility.
According to him, each geo-political zone will
benefit by an equal amount of N16.67b.
“The following major highways are to receive
special attention: Oyo – Ogbomosho; Ofusu – Ore
– Ajebandele – Shagamu; Yenagoa Road
Junction – Kolo Otuoke – Bayelsa Palm and
Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Way.
“Others are Onitsha – Enugu Expressway Kaduna
Eastern Bypass; Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri
Road; Dualization of Abuja – Lokoja – Benin
Road and the Dualization of Suleja – Minna
Road.’’
In addition, according to him, government has
approved work to start on the re-construction of
Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria – Kano road which is in
a state of disrepair.
“Work will soon start and is expected to be
completed in 2019,’’ he said.