President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the newly commissioned Itakpe-Warri Rail line be extended to link Abuja to link the Southern Zones of the country to the Northern geopolitical zones before the expiration of his tenure..
The President gave the directive while performing a virtual commissioning of the 32 .6 km Itakpe-Warri Rail line and Railway Ancillary Facility Yard at the conference hall of the State House, Abuja.
Buhari directed the Ministry of Transportation to link all the ports of Origin and destination namely,Apapa,Tin Can,Warri,Onne, Calabar ports to the rail network in order to significantly improve overall transportation and enhance economic capacities.
He said that his administration gave premium to the railway mode of transportation as a vital backbone to support industrialization and economic development.
The President described the rail linking Itakpe-Warri as an important link for the country’s economy as the central rail line.and expressed optimism “that the project will link people across the cultural divides and expand the frontier of trade and commerce,which will lead to better standards of living for our citizens”
He implored those who work in the railway to uphold maintenance and safety Culture neccessary for long-, lasting service in the difficult terrain while also enjoining stakeholders in Agriculture and mining as well as Host communites to maximize the enormous benefits that could be derived from the railway.
The President gave the assurance that the Itakpe-Warri Rail line which which is to link Abuja will be completed before he leaves office as President.
“It is my high expectation that this project about to link the south South geopolitical zone of the country to northern zones will be completed during the tenure of this administration.,’
He named the eleven train stations after prominent Nigerians who have contributed to nation building.
A -Itakpe-: Adamu Attah station
B- Ajaokuta: Abubakar Olusola Saraki statiou
C-Itogb:Augustus Aikhomu station
D- Agenebode: George Innih station.
E- Uromi : Anthony Enahoro station
F- Ekehen:Tom Ikimi station
G- igbanke-Samuel Ogbemudia station
H- Agbor- Goodluck Jonathan station
I-Abraka-Michael Ibru station
J- Opara Alfred Rewane station
K- Ojevwu : Michael Akhigbe station.railway village.
