Rail infrastructures will position Nigerian ports as choice for import, export business — Buhari
…Commissions $195m Deep Blue project in Lagos
By Seun Ibiyemi
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that Nigeria’s current railway infrastructures have the capacity to stimulate indigenous and international commerce within the nation and its neighbouring countries.
He stated that Nigeria is now positioned to serve as the shipping hub for landlocked nations.
The President made this remark at the commissioning of the Ebute-Meta Standard Gauge Rail in Lagos.
Buhari stated that the rail is another milestone towards infrastructural development, which before now posed a challenge to economic growth in the country.
The rail, he said, would serve as a vista for revitalising the economy and encouraging local and international commerce through various parts of the country.
“In clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, the railway system establishes an end to end logistics and supply chain transport for both passengers and freight,” the President stated.
He added that the linkage of the rail to the ports would make for efficiency in the delivery of goods with reduced travel time while raising the status of the country to the choice hub for business activities among neighbouring countries.
“This would position Nigeria and its ports as the choice hub for imports and exports businesses for neighbouring countries. This would create employment, serve as a window to new business opportunities and culminate in wealth creation for the common man.
“The Lagos-Ibadan railway and its connection to the Tincan Island Port as well as the West to East rail line from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port-Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.
“This is already yielding the desired result as construction activities on the Kaduna-Kano railway segment have commenced backend engineering activities,” he said.
Buhari commended the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for “giving the project the priority it deserves.”
While thanking the President for the support to complete the project thus far, the Minister also appreciated the president for his patience and determination to complete the project, adding that the Kano-Kaduna rail project would commence by the end of June.
“I want to thank you, Mr. President, for your determination even against criticism of the fact that we were taking too long to build this. From here, we would commence construction of the Kano-Kaduna rail by the end of the month. We have had a meeting with China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC). We would go there to commence construction through the Kano and Kaduna axis.
“I am grateful to you all. I am not the best leader but I told you one thing and that is the fact that we have to deliver. Let us achieve our goal and let history judge us. This is history and this will judge us,” he said.
In another development, Buhari described the Deep Blue Project as the benchmark for maritime security among nations in the West and Central African region.
The Nigerian President made this claim while commissioning the project today in Apapa, Lagos.
He noted that the project is a strong statement of intent to tackle piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
According to Buhari, the Deep Blue Project was initiated to foster Nigerian security architecture within the nation’s waters and beyond.
Buhari inaugurated the $195 million Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, otherwise called the Deep Blue project after commissioning Lagos-Ibadan rail project.
“Deep Blue Project is coming at a time the globe has become concerned about piracy and maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea. This project displays the concerted efforts to guarantee security and it is a demonstration of the government’s resolve to diversify the nation’s economy and harness Blue economy potentials,” the President said.
While commending the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Defence for making the project a reality, Buhari encouraged all maritime stakeholders to collaborate with the ultimate goal being security of the marine domain and safety of seafarers in the country.
He also noted that the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, Nigeria has prosecuted ten pirates using the Act.
In his address earlier, the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi noted that financial and maintenance sustainability of the Project would be developed by a Committee saddled with that responsibility.
Amaechi, however, expressed delight that the assets of the Project have already been deployed to guarantee safety at Lagos Secure Anchorage Area (SAA) after the private security outfits for such operations were banned.
The Transport Minister commended the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Service Chiefs for their contributions throughout the preliminary stages of the project and encouraged them to maintain the support.
On his part, the Minister of Defence, Major General (rtd) Bashir Magashi, stated that with the Deep Blue Project, safety is guaranteed in the maritime sector and this would attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in maritime.
He described the C4i intelligence centre as the heart of the project, adding that with the operation of C4i and the entire project, piracy in the nation’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the entire maritime space will be addressed.
Magashi stressed the need to make judicious use of the Deep Blue Project assets and advised that proper maintenance be provided to ensure the benefits of the project are fully optimized.
