President Muhammadu Buhari has done it again as his administration has successfully completed the 326-kilometre Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri rail line that was abandoned by successive administrations before him.
Today, the Buhari administration has inaugurated the Commercial Operations of the Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail line and Railway Ancillary Facility Yard at Goodluck Jonathan Railway Complex, Owa-Oyibu, Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, amidst excitement and eulogies from deltans who graced the arena to witness the event.
It was an epoch event that attracted the attentions of not only traditional rulers from the state but also citizens who turnout in huge numbers to grace the event and show gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for considering this critical project of the rail line which was initiated in 1987 under the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.
The economic drive of the railway infrastructure is such that will boost the moral of rural farmers and revamp increase production as easy links to far markets have been created through the railway system which is a far more cheaper and easier means of transporting goods, especially from the south to far northern Nigeria.
The rail line no doubt has strong potential for stimulating business and other social activities, turning host communities where operational stations are already situated into a business hub and soon to become commercial cities.
Delta State alone hosts about 5 operational Railway Stations situated in different communities across the senatorial districts. They include Goodluck Jonathan Railway Complex, Owa-Oyibu; David Ejoor Station, Abraka; Michael Ibru Station, Okpara; Alfred Rewane Station, Ujevwu and Michael Akhigbe Railway Village, Agbor.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Transportation Minister had said that the project was fully funded by the Nigerian government, adding that eight of the 10 stations on the line were in the Niger-Delta/South South region of the country.
“There is no loan on this project; it was funded from the budget and I had the directive of the president to go and revive it and complete it as soon as possible,” he said.
In all these, we give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari who made it happen, and to the man who is the brain behind the success. No doubt Nigeria is lucky to have this intelligent, highly resourceful and a focused Servant Leader, in the person of H-E, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a development administrator, and the Honourable Minister of Transportation whose versatility has no bound in the service of humanity.
Comr. Nwachukwu Sadik Enemosa (An eyewitness)
