Russia to construct 1,400km rail track in Nigeria – TheNigerialawyer

The Russian government has agreed to support development of
Nigeria’s rail infrastructure by constructing 1,400 kilometres
track from Lagos to the South-South city of Calabar.

According to Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja, said
this development was one of the agreements reached at a meeting
between President Muhammadu Buhari and the Russian President,
Vladimir Putin.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the ongoing
Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia, on Wednesday.

Mr Shehu disclosed that there was also a discussion on the
advancement of the ongoing project for the establishment of a
nuclear power plant in Nigeria.

According to Mr Putin, the next step in the implementation of
the project should be the commencement of construction of a power
plant.

On security and military cooperation, one that existed for 59
years of Nigeria’s independence, President Buhari agreed to renew
Nigeria-Russia Military Technical Agreement that had lapsed within
a short time.

He said: “I have directed the Minister of Defence to work with
the Ministry of Justice to conclude this matter within the shortest
possible time.

“This military cooperation agreement is expected to give impetus
to direct procurement of military hardware on a
government-to-government basis at a lower cost as well as training
of military personnel and modernisation of armed forces and renewal
of infrastructure and equipment, which President Putin promised to
undertake.”

On the protracted issue of the Aluminum Smelter Company of
Nigeria, ALSCON, Ikot-Abasi, Akwa-Ibom State, Mr Buhari said that
he had asked the Ministry of Justice, “to submit a comprehensive
report on the UC Russel (the Russian owners of the plant)
matter.

“I want to assure you that the aim of our reforms is to ensure
such investments are concluded and actualised in a professional and
painless manner.”

The presidential aide disclosed that the two presidents also
addressed the issues of partnership in education and agriculture,
adding that the Russia leader said they would give additional
scholarships to Nigerians.

“We seek your government’s support, especially in the areas of
wheat production.

“Today, Nigeria produces less than one hundred thousand metric
tons of wheat locally while our imports are projected to exceed
five million tons in 2020.

“We therefore need your support to bridge the deficit which will
create jobs and save our foreign exchange for other important areas
like security, defence and infrastructure,” Mr Buhari said.

On this, Mr Putin promised to promote joint efforts, given his
country’s ranking as the current number one wheat producer in the
world.

The Russian president said Nigeria should take advantage of
Russia’s potassium resources to advance Mr Buhari’s local
fertiliser production programme.

Mr Putin promised his country’s support for the geological
prospection of Nigeria’s solid minerals and gave assurances of
working with Nigeria and other African countries to secure and stop
the incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea as they did in
securing the Somali coastal areas.