….calls captain of Industries to take advantage

….makes case for local content

….as he commissions $3.2billion rail line

By: Idu Jude
Port Harcourt-The Federal Government of Nigeria, has admonished captain of Industries across Nigeria, not to miss business opportunities abound on the 61 stations and passing loops on the corridors of the Port Harcourt rail line, which is the longest in Nigeria.

The President Commander-in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mohammadu Buhari, made this call Tuesday, while performing virtual ground breaking of the $3.2billion project.

The ground breaking ceremony has in attendance, 4 cabinet Ministers and two Governors including The Host Minister Chibuike Amaechi, Chris Ngige of Ministry of Labour and employment as well as the Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, Ogbonnia Onu. Others Governors, Mai mala Buni of Yobe state and Governor Simon Dalong of Plateau state.

According to the President, the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway reconstruction project is featuring new branch lines to Owerri, Imo State and Damaturu, Yobe State.

His words, “the project is with the objective of resuscitating the once vibrant railway transportation in the Eastern railway corridor of the country, which was Port Harcourt – Maiduguri.

“We are further expanding it to achieve contemporary demand for transport in the North East and Southern geopolitical zones of the country. It is also designed to link other standard gauge rail lines under construction through the provision of transshipment centers. The funding of the railway is through loan to fund 85% project cost and the Federal Government contribution of 15% as counterpart funding”

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He further stressed that the second and the third projects are the Bonny deep sea port and a Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt that are to be constructed through direct investments by our Chinese partners and international financing agencies.

These projects he said, will serve transportation and supply chain network for domestic needs and export as well as support imports into the hinterland of the country through the new deep sea port in Bonny Island, Rivers State.

“This improved port is designed to be a regional and international transport hub. In line with the global trends, the Railway Industrial Park will have the capability for processing exports of raw materials with value addition and also export of locally made goods.

In planning this project, prudent use of resources has been given priority, as by this endeavor, Nigeria will retrieve the old narrow gauge that has been lying in neglect for years and bring it to full functional state commensurate to a National railway service at a rational price”

The country’s aspiration for nationwide transport infrastructure and railways is significantly enhanced by these three projects that were conceived to be integrated in their operations.

The Port Harcourt – Maiduguri railway will translate to reactivation of economic activities along the Eastern corridor, which has been greatly affected by insurgent activities and serve as a stimulus for industry and trade.

The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost transshipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area”.

The President stated that sum of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these projects includes creation of massive employment locally.

In addition,  he revealed that there will be further  utilization of local contents and technology transfer, increase in internally generated revenue and would serve as a fulcrum for the achievement of the Federal Government planned Integrated Development Masterplan.

“I therefore urge all Nigerians especially industrialists, manufacturers and businesses within the zones to take maximum advantage of this infrastructure in planning for expansion and building new factories to join in raising Nigeria’s economy to the global stage and reaffirm our leading role in Africa”.

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The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, while welcoming dignitries, stated that there has been an extension of the contract to boni Iceland and Port Harcourt industrial park, with the approval of narrow gauge and standard gauge respectively.

“The narrow gauge line was put in place to shelve agricultural produce from the south to North. As we pursue the loan approval, we have also approved the upgrading of the narrow gauge to run 80/100 kilometers per hour.

Also speaking the Minister of Labour and employment Senator Chris Ngige, has said that the Federal Government resuscitation of the narrow gauge to connect south east, is huge to less emphasized. Ngige remarked that people should shelve their swords and focus on the fact that the rail is here.

” You see I do not care about the type whether it is narrow gauge or standard gauge, my own is to travel from my destination to another”.