The Federal Government has assured of the timely completion of the $874 million Abuja-Idu-Kaduna standard gauge railway track.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo gave the assurance yesterday at the kick-off of the construction of the rail line.
The project, which is being handled by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), is expected to facilitate movement of passengers and goods between Kaduna and Abuja. Sambo reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to provide infrastructure for the country’s development.
He said: “The Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructural development in the country is total and unwavering. In that connection, several projects in many other critical sectors like aviation, power, water, roads, oil and gas, health, youth development and education were also embarked upon. All these are geared towards improving the livelihood of Nigerians.”
Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, said the Abuja-Idu- Kaduna rail modernisation project is the first segment of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail line being constructed while the double track Lagos-Ibadan segment would commence before the end of the year.
Umar described the kickoff as a significant milestone in the execution of the 25 years strategic rail vision for the country.
The minister said that having completed the rehabilitation of the existing 1,124km Lagos-Kano narrow gauge rail line, the Federal Government had intensified efforts to complete the 1,657km Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern corridor before the end of the year.