FEDERAL MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRANSPORTATION SENATOR GBEMISOLA RUQAYYAH SARAKI CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT MOHAMMADU BUHARI

POTIUS SERO QUAM NUNQUAM: IT IS BETTER TO DO SOMETHING LATE THAN NOT TO DO IT AT ALL

THE ITAKPE-AJAOKUTA-WARRI RAILWAY COMMISSIONING

Today, our nation achieved another milestone in the vision of developing our transportation infrastructure to support our increased and growing industrialization as a nation. I had the singular honour of being present when His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned this afternoon, the 326-km single track standard gauge railway line from Itakpe through Ajaokuta, in Kogi state, to Warri, in Delta State.

33 years ago, a project was conceived to connect the iron ore mines in Itakpe and the steel rolling mills in Ajaokuta and Aladja in Warri through railway lines to explore our resources for national prosperity.

Thirty-three years ago!!!! Abandoned. Until now.  

Potius Sero Quam Nunquam. 

It is better to do something late than not to do it all.

Realizing the importance of resuscitating this long-abandoned project with a renewed vision for the industrial development, Mr. President, prioritized our railway system to drive our journey to national prosperity. It is of the upmost significance not only to provide important infrastructural support to the iron mining and steel rolling industries as job and wealth creators, especially at a crucial period of economic diversification, but also to support the movement of millions of passengers and goods and agriculture as a whole.

The vision of this administration for this important milestone is to ultimately connect the Warri port in the southern region with the agricultural belts of the northern region as an vital step towards solidifying our food security and economic buoyancy as a nation.

Apart from the support it would give to the revitalization of our steel industry, this railway axis would support the movement of around 1 million passengers and 3.5 million tons of goods per annum. This is significant to our drive towards the development and creation of wealth for all Nigerians. 

Congratulations Mr President and thank you. 

Congratulations to my dear brother, Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, our Director of Rail in the Ministry of Transportation, Alh. Mohammed Olatunji Babakobi and the entire team in the Rail Department, the National Railway Corporation Board and Management, for yet another job well done. I know the sheer hard work, determination and zeal you all put into ensuring that this project was completed on time and commissioned.

Alhamdulillah, you achieved it. 

It is indeed a New Dawn.