(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/HMT2-300x198.jpg) The Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has once again stated that the rehabilitation of the Eastern corridor from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri will be completed by the end of this year.
Senator Idris Umar stated this in his office while receiving the Governors of Kogi and Anambra States, Captain Idris Wada and Peter Obi in his office.
Senator Umar also stated that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will collaborate to ensure that the kind of tragedy witnessed in Oron (Akwa Ibom State) which led to a boat mishap will not happen again.
The two Governors had come to the Minister to solicit for the inclusion of Onitsha and Ayangba in the 25-year rail development master plan developed for the country. They emphasized the importance of trade along the Onitsha- Ayangba- Abuja axis and stressed the need to include the axis in the master plan to facilitate trade development.
They equally congratulated the Minister on the successful rehabilitation of the Western line rail services (from Lagos to Kano) and equally said they were looking forward to the completion of other lines.
On his own, Captain Wada lauded the Federal government for the completion of the dredging of the Lower Niger from Lokoja to Onitsha, adding that Kogi was already getting expressions of interest from businessmen who want to establish businesses along the route who are also desirous of rail linkage. He equally thanked the Federal Government for the development of an inland jetty at Idah, the historical capital of Igala Kingdom.
Captain Idris Wada also informed the Transport Minister that he had set up a committee to look into safety steps to ensure smooth inland water transportation especially for passengers between Kogi and Nasarawa states. He equally stated that Kogi State is in the process of acquiring necessary boats for safe transportation.
In his response to their request, the Minister stated that the 25 year master plan is not sacrosanct in principle and promised to get the technical experts in the Ministry to look into the request as soon as possible.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria
We're fed up of empty promises.. We want to see actions cos action speak louder than words.