GEJ Fulfills Presidential Promise, Revives Railway System
President Goodluck Jonathan said that he has fulfilled his promise to revive a moribund railway system in Nigeria.
According to Jonathan’s Facebook post, when he came into office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6 May 2010, he vowed to himself to put Nigerian railways back on track, as he believed that it offered the most inexpensive mode of transportation for the people.
And four years later, the President is happy to announce that this promised has been fulfilled.
“Our people can now take the Lagos-Kano service for only 1,930 Naira and the Port Harcourt-Enugu service for only 300 Naira,” he wrote on Thusday, January 22.
Moreover, Vice-President Namadi Sambo on February 4 in Lokoja said the Federal Government had approved the design of a rail line project from Abuja to Lokoj, while the Abuja-Kaduna fast-train project had been completed and ready for inauguration.
Reportedly, the Warri-Ajaokuta rail line has been also completed and very soon Mr. President is going to commission that project. The President also has approved the design of the rail lines from Abuja to Lokoja to Ajaokuta.
Jonathan also wrote that one of his Facebook followers, Oraye St. Franklyn, had taken a ride on the Port Harcourt-Enugu service of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and sent him photos.
“He expressed his delight as a parent that his children had entered a train in Nigeria for the first time in their lives,” the president wrote.
The president confirmed that the administration had just completed the tracks for the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge Railway. Moreover, “plans have reached an advanced stage for a new rail line from Lagos to Calabar and another between Ibadan and Lagos”.
He plans to link every commercial and administrative capital in Nigeria by rail.
Several days ago, the President also took to his Facebook to tell that the Federal Government has already signed a $1.5 billion contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Train. He said that this service, when complete, will make it possible to live in Ibadan and work in Lagos.
Source: Legit.ng
