Committed to reducing Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, the Federal Government has mapped out a 25-year infrastructure plan, meant to link the 36 States capitals including the Federal Capital Territory by rail.
Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, who disclosed this on Saturday, said that the infrastructure plan was designed to integrate railway modernisation programme.
Nigeria Integrated Infrastructure Masterplan (NIIMP) highlighted that a total of $3.1 trillion would be required to build, maintain and manage the nation's infrastructure from 2014-2043.
The short-term plan of the NIIMP, which covered a 5-year period had indicated an investment of about US$127 billion over the first 5-year period to close the infrastructure gap.
Annually, Nigeria needs about $100bn, which is approximately N38 trillion to close the infrastructure shortfall.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Dr Sam Idiagbonya, on Saturday in Abuja, he disclosed that when the project is completed, the entire country would have been connected by rail.
He said that the Eastern line is undergoing rehabilitation from Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri while the western line, from Lagos to Kano narrow gauge is operational and the new standard gauge, Lagos-Ibadan is also operational.
Also, Abuja-Kaduna is operational, Kaduna-Kano is under construction, just as work is in progress in other sections and stations.
“Now, we have the central line running from Warri to Itakpe, which is operational and ultimately that same line will also link up with Abuja. If you live in Delta State and you want to come to Abuja, you have no business going by air or road.
“At the end of the day, the entire country would have been connected by a network of railway that will make life easier for passengers’ movement in large volumes and movement of goods,” he said.
The Minister stated that rail Infrastructure is the bedrock for social economic development, saying that the next administration should build on what the present APC–led government is doing.
On linking the railway to the ports, Sambo said that he recently visited the Comptroller General of Customs to deliberate on several issues of concern to the Ministry, particularly the Apapa ports.
He noted that since government is continual, that it's important to put in place a transition plan for subsequent administrations.
The Minister urged Nigerians to ignore sentiments and commend President Buhari for his commitment to infrastructure development.
Sambo said that the present administration had completed almost the entire projects abandoned by the previous administrations and improved the security architecture.
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