The resumption of cargo train services on the Lagos-Kano route will force down the prices of food items and prolong the lifespan of the highways, the Federal Government said yesterday.
Transportation Minister Said Alkali who launched the freight train service from Dala Inland Dryport in Kano to Apapa Port in Lagos State, said the cargo train will run on the narrow gauge.
The minister noted the development of a modern, safe, secure and sustainable transportation network as a priority of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration.
He listed the benefits of the restored freight services as a reduction in the cost of transportation and a slash in the cost of doing business.
Senator Alkali also noted that the development will reduce pressures and crashes on the highways and boost the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The minister said: “The fixing of the narrow gauge for freight from Lagos to Kano was carried out as a quick win to ensure the restoration of freight operation to the famous city of Kano as the commercial nerve of northern Nigeria without interrupting the ongoing construction of the standard gauge.
“Notwithstanding this laudable initiative, I am pleased to inform you that the construction of standard gauge from Lagos to Kano and Kano-Maradi is progressively ongoing at appreciable speed.
“As a testimony to this reality, the Federal Government recently secured financing for the completion of the Kaduna-Kano Standard Gauge ongoing rail project”.
Alkali also hinted that the federal government has initiated the construction of another rail project that will link Badagry to TinCan and TinCan to Apapa.
He said the rail network will also link Lekki to Ijebu Ode, and Ijebu Ode to Kajola which will connect the route from Lagos to Kano and Kano to Maradi.
The minister said the newly commissioned project and several others undertaken under the rail modernisation project are targeted at accelerating the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Tinubu.
The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Fidet Okhria said the commencement of the service will reduce the pressure on roads.
He said: “This makes NRC functional because people will appreciate NRC. We are moving 18 wagons and in the next 72 hours, it will be in Lagos. This is important because the tracks will be occupied instead of leaving it idle for vandals to destroy.
“This will affect the roads too because the lives of those plying the roads will be safer and the roads will last longer”.
Okhiria also said due to security challenges, freight will be moved between 7 am and 6 pm daily.
