- Nigeria Must Modernise Railways to Sustain Logistics Hub Status – Shettima
- Shettima said the Tinubu administration is committed to building an integrated transport network of roads and railways
- The Vice President commended the Ministry of Transportation for convening the conference
Vice President Kashim Shettima has stressed the need for Nigeria to urgently revive and modernise its railway system to maintain its role as Africa’s leading logistics hub.
Eko Hot Blog reports that while speaking at the opening of the Second International Railway Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Shettima said the Tinubu administration is committed to building an integrated transport network of roads and railways to spur industrialisation and economic growth.j
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He explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda seeks to reverse decades of over-reliance on road transport, which has resulted in congestion, infrastructure decay, and high accident rates. According to him, rail sector reform will require strong partnerships and active private sector participation.
“Our resolve is to connect major Nigerian cities by road and rail, which is vital for seamless trade and industrialisation,” Shettima said.
The Vice President commended the Ministry of Transportation for convening the conference in partnership with De-Sadel Nigeria Limited and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, describing it as a valuable platform to chart strategies for sustainable railway development.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, highlighted the Federal Government’s High-Speed Rail project as a bold step to transform transportation and deepen national integration.
Minister of Transportation, Said Ahmed Alkali, noted that the Federal Executive Council recently approved the construction of ultra-modern bus terminals across the six geo-political zones, while stressing that railway expansion would drive investment and promote national unity.
Also, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, emphasised the synergy between the gas and rail sectors, stating that Nigeria’s gas reserves can reliably power railway infrastructure.
On his part, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, assured stakeholders of transparent and timely procurement processes to encourage investment in the transport sector.
