Railway To Link State Capitals – Minister Of Transportation

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing expansion of railway network across the country will cover all the State capitals.

The assurance is part of the resolutions reached at the executive session of the 17th National Council on Transportation (NCT) in Abuja with the theme: “Transportation Technology and Innovation for Socio – Economic Sustainability.”

A statement on Saturday by a Media Aide in the Ministry, Ebenezer Adeniyan, stated that the Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, who presided over the session, said the target of the rail network expansion is to touch all the 36 State capitals in the country, in no distant time.

The Minister, who acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, in pushing for work on deep sea port for Ondo state,

added that this will become a reality in the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sambo gave assurances that the Ministry will implement workable and practicable policy initiatives that will advance the efficiency of the transport sector to play a critical role in the sustainable development of the economy.

He called for a more serious synergy between the Federal Government and the States, noting that milestones of the Government will come to naught unless the State governments are on board.

The Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Adegoroye, in his welcome remarks said: “this year’s theme is a call for a paradigm shift from the well-known traditional approach to adapting new innovative technologies that will revolutionize the movement of people and goods, transform the design and operation of Transportation systems.”

Adegoroye harped on the need to embrace imminent transition in the transportation sector that will impact positively on the Nigerian transport system, noting that with growth of new technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, among others, if properly harnessed will guaranty an all encompassing national development for the country.

He added: “It is imperative that we join the moving train of Technology and Innovation by keying in and supporting initiatives and plans that will evolve new and digital technology.

“To facilitate the attainment of our new resolve, we need to invest in training and re-training of our personnel, acquire state-of-the art technology where necessary, imbibe innovative policies and support collaborations among relevant Agencies/Organisations.

“This will in turn improve the quality of live of Nigerians, provide job opportunities and foster economic development.”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine and Land Transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, in his remarks, assured of the National Assembly’s support, noting that no country can attain development without viable and sustainable transportation system.

The 4-day 17th National Council on Transportation had in attendance State Commissioners for Transportation and their Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Agencies, Captains of industries and other relevant stakeholders.