President Muhammadu Buhari has said the Kano-Maradi rail line connecting Niger Republic would foster Trans-Sahara trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
Buhari disclosed this on Tuesday virtually during the Groundbreaking ceremony of Kano – Katsina–Jibiya–Maradi.
The rail line traverses the major commercial and administrative centre of Kano and passing through other economic hubs of the country including Kazaure, Daura, Katsina and up to the border town of Jibiya and the Niger Republic city of Maradi.
According to the president the vital infrastructure line would establish an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport services between Northern and Southern regions of the country, reaching Nigerian southern ports of Lagos and Warri.
He the entire route encompasses territory inhabited by close to 80 million people across 10 states of the country. This project has a branch line to Dutse the capital of Jigawa state to open up this corridor which is endowed with vast resources.
Buhari said the project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports. The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of Niger Republic will benefit from ease of transportation logistics at affordable cost in their import and export business.
He noted that construction company handling this project, Messrs Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited was supporting knowledge and technology transfer by investing in the establishment of a learning Institution for Transportation and Railway Science, while commending the gesture.
