By Ahmed Idris
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday directed that ports in the country must have the complement of rail infrastructure to boost socio-economic activities.
across the country.
The President said while speaking at the International Association of Ports and Harbour’s Africa Regional Conference in Abuja.
“We understand that this inter-connectivity will improve the country’s economic competitiveness as targeted under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. So, for starters, I have directed that every port must have the complement of rail infrastructure.
“Our projection is that by the end of year 2021, we will have standard gauge railway across the main North-South trading route. The same level of serious attention is being given to the improvement of road infrastructure,’’ he said.
He said the federal government is committed to rebuilding infrastructure that supports the means of transportation from the ports to the hinterland.
He said government had already embarked on the construction of 25 major highways and 44 roads across the six geo political zones of the country.
“Furthermore, we have stimulated activities on our inland waterways.
Major inland river channels are being dredged with adequate channel markings for ease of navigation through the Eastern and Northern parts of the country. That is the best way to go if we plan to remain competitive in the maritime industry,” he said.
The President called on participants to see themselves as people opportuned to stand in positions of responsibility on behalf of Africa, and urged urged them to at the end of their deliberations to come up with resolutions that would benefit the entire continent.
In his remarks, Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said the theme of the conference, “African Ports and Hinterland Connectivity,” was in line with the Buhari administration’s commitment to optimising the comparative advantage the Nigeria’s maritime endowments conferred on other parts of the world.
He said the federal government planned to develop a multi model system of transportation in all its ports across the country.
