By BASHIR ADEFAKA
With the recent Federal Executive Council approval of $11.174bn for the construction of standard gauge Lagos-Calabar coastal rail line, acquisition of 20% stake in Dangote refinery and the rehabilitation of Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has once again shown that his mission in governance is total revival of the country’s infrastructure, and the economy as a whole.
Giving this commendation, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) said in a statement sent to The DEFENDER and signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that the coastal rail line has been planned to criss-cross ten States of the nation with 22 train stations.
“The proposed coastal railways will transverse Lagos to Shagamu, Shagamu to Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode to Ore to Benin City, Benin to Sapele to Warri, Warri to Yenagoa, Yenagoa to Port-Harcourt to Aba, Aba to Uyo, Uyo to Calabar,with a branch line from Benin to Asaba, Onitsha Bridge: and Port-Harcourt to Onne seaport. Calabar to Akamkpa to Ikom to Obudu Ranch is covered by phase 2 of the project.
“We commend the President for his commitment to the infrastructural development of all parts of Nigeria, considering that this project is slated to start immediately and will be completed within six years.
“It is also remarkable that President Buhari’s administration has undertaken to rehabilitate the three major refineries in the country with the latest approval of about $800 million and $500 million for the Warri and Kaduna refineries respectively. We note that apart from the progress being made in the area of roads infrastructure, the latest approvals for the construction of coastal railways and rehabilitation of refineries in the country will ultimately jumpstart the economy of the country, attract foreign investments and place Nigeria strategically as a buoyant economy in the world”.
The group noted that President Buhari has, within a period of six years, embarked on life-changing projects in the country, and expressed regret at the inability of the past administrations to utilise their time in office and available resources to impact positively on the lives of Nigerians.
