Amaechi describes Railways, Seaports as necessities to drive Nigeria’s economy

The Federal Government’s focus on railway and seaport development is a necessity to drive the nation’s economy, according to the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Amaechi made this assertion at the virtual 15th Annual Kaleidoscope Global Business Conference hosted by the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York over the weekend.

“Many Nigerians have asked why the construction of railway. Eighty percent of the cargoes we have in Nigeria are mostly imported because the Nigerian economy is yet to generate enough production.

“However, the President is of the view that if we must produce, we must have infrastructure that enables that production, hence the focus on transportation, power and works,” the minister said.

Amaechi explained although the railway project had started before President Muhammadu Buhari,’s government, stressing that the nation’s seaports were not included in the design.

According to him, one of the first things the administration did was to rework the plan to link the rail network to seaports across the country.

“We started with the Apapa seaport. We are working there now and I believe by December, we should conclude the Lagos-Ibadan rail line extension into the port.

“We then added the Warri seaport, the Calabar seaport and Tin Can Island. We are making sure that all of them include seaports,” he said.

The minister disclosed that the contract for the 386km rail line from Kano to Maradi in the Republic of Niger will be awarded on Wednesday.