By Idu Jude
The President Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Mohammadu Buhari, Thursday commissioned into full operation the completed Lagos/Ibadan rail line.

The President, also ordered immediate commencement of construction work to start at the Kaduna /Kano axis, insisting that the work must be completed before his administration runs out in 2023.

The President, while delivering his speech during the official commissioning, said that the project is another milestone achievement of his administration geared towards economic and industrial revolution to transform economic activities across the country and more especially the Western part of the country.

The President further assumed that the Kano/Mardi line will as well be achieved to attract regional economic connectivity across the West African region.

” To this effect, the Federal Ministery of Transportation will reach out to various financial bodies to finance the projects including the Kano/Ibadan rail line, the East-west roads as well as others.

The President appreciated the Honourable Minister of Transportation Rt Honourable Chibuike Amaechi on his tenacity in ensuring that the job is done and in furtherance to ensure that all the remaining projects are completed.

While speaking, the Minister of Transportation Rt Honourable Chibuike Amaechi, gave glory to God for a day that has marked the commissioning of the project that started 4 years ago.

Amaechi said, “We are grateful to God even though I know that not all Chinese are Christians but i am a Christian. We are grateful to God and also the president of the country who had the courage to take the loan that we took from China Exim bank.

As people are here celebrating today, I tell people that this place was a huge forest that we and CCECC had to go through and we have achieved it today. The celebration is not enough, it is the impact it would have on the economy; the goods and services, the personnel it would have to move in record time.

“While we are celebrating that, we are not  happy that up till now the China Exim bank is yet to approve the loan for Ibadan to Kano because we need to start that and complete it quickly because that is my fear”

He further said he is grateful that the Chinese government through the China Exim bank was able to give the loan at a concessionary rate to construct from the seaport down to Ibadan. We hope that we get money to be able to construct from Ibadan to Kano so that we can complete the track and make sure that business takes place.

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We have about three or four projects. This month, we will start Kano-Kaduna and then we will also start Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which also is CCECC, and then Kano-Maradi.

We got money from China Exim Bank, we paid it back. We did put pressure on CCECC and delivered on time. In terms of quality, what we have is of good”

The Minister while speaking gave reasons for naming the 10 stations to various Nigerians counting from Woke Soyinka, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Segun Osoba, Raji Fasola, others are Fumilayo Ransom Kuti, and others.

Also speaking, Chairman board of Nigerian railway Engineer Alhassan Miss Ibrahim, remarked that though the project began with difficulties but said that the team was able to triumph. He, however, appreciated the co-operating efforts of the Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo states Governors while working along their corridors.

Chairman of the Chinese Civil Engineering construction company CCECC Jiang Yigao, appreciated the opportunity giving to the company adding that Nigerians and China since 1981 have shared this developmental idea. He said that his country is keen on promoting economic development in Nigeria and advancing technology. ” I am indeed delighted that this day has come and the truth is that the relationship between the two countries is growing well I am really delighted”