President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the Private sector to invest and participate in the government’s drive to address the infrastructural deficit of the country.
He made the call virtually during the launch of the Kano-Maraɗi standard rail line in Katsina.
President Buhari said the rail line would traverse the major commercial and administrative centre of Kano and pass through Kazaure, Daura, Katsina, to the border town of Jibiya and Maraɗi in Niger Republic.
He said when completed, the project would ease the movement of goods and services for Niger and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports, thereby aiding the country to earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce.
The President said the Port Harcourt – Enugu – Makurdi – Maiduguri rail line with branches to Owerri, and Damaturu, had been awarded for re-construction to include a deep seaport in Bonny Island and a Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt with the objectives of achieving a vibrant and functional railway infrastructure in the eastern part of the country.
President Buhari told the gathering that a contract for the important central railway traversing Itakpe – Baro – Abuja with connection to Lokoja and a new seaport in Warri has been signed, and expected to achieve an appreciable level of completion during the tenure of his administration.
The contractor handling the Kano – Maraɗi rail project has pledged to finish it on time, and on budget.