Agencies under Transport Ministry undergoing review to strengthen inclusiveness – Senator Idris Umar.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has stated that a Nation's growth and development is critically tied to the nature of its transportation system.

Umar further stated that the three agencies of his Ministry, the Nigeria Railway Corporation, Nigeria Ports Authority, and Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority are currently undergoing review with the aim of incorporating and strengthening private sector and State and Local Governments participation in the transport sector.

He made this remarks at the 2013 Ministerial Platform for the Mid-term report of President Goodluck Jonathan's Administration, taking place at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja.

Senator Umar reitrated the Jonathan's adminstration's determination to revive and mordernize the railway system in line with the 25 years strategic vision.

He said that the acheviements so far recorded during the period under review are; in the area of the railway rehabilitation – the narrow gauge lines rehabilitation is over 90% completed.  Of the main Western line, Lagos – Kano, 1,124km is completed and passenger services and haulage of goods along the line were flagged off in December, 2012, while the Eastern line, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri, 1,657km is expected to be completed before the end of 2013.

He said, the rehabilitation of the mainline from Ebute Metta junction to Apapa local station by NRC is completed; while the sidings are in the process of being rehabilitated.

In the area of Port development, the Minister revealed that the contract for the rehabilitation of Apapa port railway network and signal works which is made up of double track of 1.5km each was executed by NPA in the sum of N860,657,797.23 and completed in November, 2012.

Moreso, in the area of dredging, the Minister said, in the last 24 months, they have removed 62 critical wrecks from our water channels which allowed for the dredging of the channel and made room for bigger vessels.  19 more wrecks, he said, are due for removal from the Lagos channel.

Umar added that in the meantime, NIMASA is embarking on a general wrecks removal exercise to cover a greater part of the maritime domain under "No Cure No Pay", policy.

Earlier in his welcome address, the host Minister and the Minister of Information Mr. Labaran Maku said, the ministerial platform is a forum where Ministers are given the opportunity to tell the general public of the appreciative progress of the happenings in their various offices.   "Since democracy strengthens development in all sector; therefore this platform will serve as a forum for feedback from the Federal government and the general public of what is achieved and it's challenges"; Maku stated.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[FMINigeria]

[Folami David]

Our transportation system is really improving but I hope it'll improve to a point where we'll have more people coming to Nigeria.

[Folami David]