The Federal Government has commissioned Itakpe- Warri-Ajaokuta rail line project after 33 years of abandonment.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony which took place at the recently named Goodluck Jonathan Railway Complex in Agbor (Owa-Oyibu), Delta State, the Minister Of Transportation Hon.Rotimi
Amaechi expressed his gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the landmark project said the project came out of federal government’s passion to realize for the country an effective and effcient transportation system especially the railways.
He said the project started in 1987 during the military era but suffered a lot of setbacks by various administrations.
He said the project will play a vital role in providing freight movement services to industries in the corridor including agricultural, manufacturing and mining as well as cover passenger services.
Amaechi said his Ministry is working towards extending the rail line to Warri port and Northward to Abuja and also working on other new lines to connect other State Capitals including our commercial and administrative centers.
He said; ” This project that we are here to celebrate and commission started in 1987 during the Military era but underwent protracted hiccups and
prolonged abandonment which attest to more than 3 decades of investment, hope and despair”.
In his address, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Federal Ministry of Transportation to link all the nation’s ports of origin and destination – Apapa, Tin Can, Warri, Onne, Calabar Ports- to the rail network in order to significantly improve overall transportation and economic capacities.
He declared that his administration recognised the importance of the railway mode of transportation as a vital backbone to support industrialization and economic development.
He said: ”Accordingly, I have approved the prioritization of viable railway routes for either new rail lines or the reconstruction and rehabilitation of some, to achieve effective and efficient train services supporting the country’s trade and commerce.
