From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has shown commitment to collaborate with the Kaduna State Government on the construction of light rail projects to further ease the state’s transportation process.
The Minister of Transportation, Said Umar Alkali, disclosed this when the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, led a delegation from the state to seek the support of the Federal Government for the realisation of the project.
Alkali noted that the desire of the Kaduna State Government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Transportation to develop the light rail in Kaduna is not only apt but timely.
In view of this, the minister emphasised that the transportation sector is the gateway to the nation’s economy, as no nation can fix its GDP without an affordable transportation system.
“When I took over as the Minister of Transportation, I was directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure timely delivery of all railway projects under the railway partnership. The Ministry is pleased with your developmental metrics. It matches that of our dear President in putting transportation at the top scale of your administration.
“When Mr President visited China for a state visit, he engaged President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China to ensure the delivery of our project from Ibadan to Abuja and Kaduna to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. I am pleased to inform you that we are going to deliver the Kaduna to Kano segment of the railway modernisation project by next year. Kano to Maradi with a branch line to Dutse by next year.”
The minister further gave assurances of support under the directive of Mr President that the ministry should collaborate with sub-national entities to ensure the development of the rail transportation sector, and that the Federal Ministry of Transportation would cooperate with Kaduna State to ensure timely delivery of the Kaduna Light Rail.
The minister gave an express directive to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary to set up an engagement committee between the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), and the Kaduna State Government, which will provide the design for how the light rail project will be developed.
“We want to do the groundbreaking as quickly as possible. The committee will submit a report within two weeks. You are directed to come to your inaugural meeting. I am going to inaugurate the committee on Monday. I will give you the terms of reference. I have already given you a marching order to report back to the Ministry within two weeks,” said Alkali.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, earlier in his remarks, appreciated the minister for repositioning the rail transportation system within and outside the country.
Governor Sani noted that the thrust of his visit was to further the state’s collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation and also thank the Minister for giving the necessary support.
The governor asserted that addressing transportation-related issues no doubt addresses other pressing issues, such as the creation of jobs and the enhancement of productivity.
“I want to appreciate the Minister for repositioning both within the country and outside. And the level of support the Ministry is getting from its partners, and that is why some of us at the sub-national level have stepped up, and that is why today, with the support of our leader, President Bola Tinubu, who has given this rare opportunity to the Minister.”
Senator Uba Sani noted that Kaduna State is one of the states leading in the area of transportation, the transportation hub in the whole of northern Nigeria, and second to none after Lagos.
“A few weeks ago, President Bola Ahmed was in Kaduna to commission our 100 CNG buses, and he attested to the fact that Kaduna is leading, and not only that, five months ago we did the groundbreaking of our BRT, and we are embarking on a 24km corridor of our bus terminal, which I have no doubt is the first in Nigeria. I am here to brief the Minister that we are making a lot of progress. We are looking forward to commissioning the project by the third quarter of next year.
“Due to this, President Tinubu selected Kaduna as one of the few states for the light rail project.
“President Tinubu has given 100 billion as the first instalment to support the light rail in Kaduna,” he said.
He further revealed that the state is working closely with the Minister of Transportation, Finance, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the light rail in Kaduna becomes a reality.
“By the grace of God, we will do the groundbreaking of our light rail in September.
“This means Kaduna State will be the next state to have a light rail in Nigeria after Lagos State,” said the governor.
