Buhari Inaugurates Lagos-Ibadan Railway Project at Mobolaji Johnson Station

President Buhari Thursday inaugurated the commercial operations
of Lagos-Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway
Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos, describing the feat ‘‘as another
milestone in the drive of this Administration to revitalize the
railway system and establish it as a choice mode of transportation
for both passengers and freight.’’

The President pledged that his administration would continue to
prioritise the railway system as a transportation backbone that can
transform industrial and economic activity in the country.

On the benefits of the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as well as other
on-going railway projects across the country, President Buhari
said:

‘‘This vital line establishes an end-to-end logistic supply
chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos –
Ibadan, as goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail
directly from the Apapa port
Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan
from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

‘‘In clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic
growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, we have
in the rail sector, further to other ongoing railway infrastructure
projects, embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of
the Lagos – Kano railway, which is Ibadan – Kano.

‘‘The Lagos – Kano railway project when completed will link the
Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria
southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic will be
achieved.

‘‘The connection through rail would position Nigerian ports as
the choice for import and export business of the people of
landlocked Niger Republic.

‘‘This would be beneficial to the economy through employment
from new business opportunities and wealth creation.’’

The President expressed delight that his directive to the
Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance on
reaching financial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to
partner with the Federal Government for the development of the
Ibadan – Kano railway was yielding results.

He noted that Ibadan-Kano project would have a connection to the
Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line
from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port
Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.

‘‘From the beginning of this administration, railway
infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves
and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja
– Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016
to this Lagos – Ibadan railway project being commissioned today for
full commercial operation,’’ he said.

Commending the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for
his drive and tenacity in achieving the milestone recorded today,
the President praised the ‘‘wonderful team in the Ministry’’ for a
job well done.
Shortly after he inaugurated the project, President Buhari took a
ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light (ENL),
Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.

He was joined by the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governors
of Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and the Deputy Governor of Ondo, the Minister
of Transportation, the Minister of State Transportation, Sen.
Gbemisola Saraki, other Ministers as well as some government
officials.

President Buhari Thursday inaugurated the commercial operations
of Lagos-Ibadan railway project at the Mobolaji Johnson Railway
Station, Ebute Metta, Lagos, describing the feat ‘‘as another
milestone in the drive of this Administration to revitalize the
railway system and establish it as a choice mode of transportation
for both passengers and freight.’’

The President pledged that his administration would continue to
prioritise the railway system as a transportation backbone that can
transform industrial and economic activity in the country.

On the benefits of the Lagos-Ibadan corridor as well as other
on-going railway projects across the country, President Buhari
said:

‘‘This vital line establishes an end-to-end logistic supply
chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos –
Ibadan, as goods to the hinterland would now be transported by rail
directly from the Apapa port
Quayside straight to the Inland Container Depot located in Ibadan
from where it can be distributed to other parts of the country.

‘‘In clear recognition of the challenges posed to our economic
growth by absence of strong and effective infrastructure, we have
in the rail sector, further to other ongoing railway infrastructure
projects, embarked on the completion of the outstanding segment of
the Lagos – Kano railway, which is Ibadan – Kano.

‘‘The Lagos – Kano railway project when completed will link the
Kano – Maradi line at Kano and a rail link from the Nigeria
southern ports of Lagos to Maradi in Niger Republic will be
achieved.

‘‘The connection through rail would position Nigerian ports as
the choice for import and export business of the people of
landlocked Niger Republic.

‘‘This would be beneficial to the economy through employment
from new business opportunities and wealth creation.’’

The President expressed delight that his directive to the
Federal Ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance on
reaching financial agreements with appropriate co-financiers to
partner with the Federal Government for the development of the
Ibadan – Kano railway was yielding results.

He noted that Ibadan-Kano project would have a connection to the
Tin Can Island port as well as the West – East Coastal rail line
from Lagos to Calabar linking Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port
Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.

‘‘From the beginning of this administration, railway
infrastructure development has been given the priority it deserves
and various milestones have been reached, right from when the Abuja
– Kaduna railway was flagged-off for commercial operation in 2016
to this Lagos – Ibadan railway project being commissioned today for
full commercial operation,’’ he said.

Commending the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for
his drive and tenacity in achieving the milestone recorded today,
the President praised the ‘‘wonderful team in the Ministry’’ for a
job well done.
Shortly after he inaugurated the project, President Buhari took a
ride from Ebute Metta Station to Energy Nature Light (ENL),
Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.

He was joined by the Speaker House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governors
of Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun and the Deputy Governor of Ondo, the Minister
of Transportation, the Minister of State Transportation, Sen.
Gbemisola Saraki, other Ministers as well as some government
officials.