Abuja Rail To Connect Five Northern Cities – Adebiyi

The federal government has revealed that Abuja rail services will connect five northern cities—Zaria, Kaduna, Kano, Daura and Katsina—with the move expected to create new employment opportunities and boost economic activities along the route.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunsho Adebiyi, disclosed this on Friday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, Kaduna State.

Adebiyi said the government was making significant investments in transport infrastructure and urged young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical and professional skills to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector.

According to him, the planned rail expansion would soon make it possible for passengers to travel by train from Abuja to the five northern destinations.

According to him, “By January next year, you can join a train from Abuja to Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura, and Katsina.”

Adebiyi, who disclosed that he graduated from NITT in 1995, said the training he received at the institution, alongside other professional programmes, contributed significantly to his career development.

He commended NITT for its role in developing manpower for the transport sector through professional training, capacity building, research and consultancy.

The permanent secretary also praised the institute’s director-general and chief executive, Bayero Salih Farah, describing him as a committed and dedicated leader.

He further announced automatic employment for the two best graduating students at the institute and offered them scholarships to pursue degree programmes.

Adebiyi also urged members of the National Assembly to support young Nigerians through scholarship programmes, citing the initiative of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, as an example.

He said such interventions would help empower young people, expand opportunities and contribute to efforts to address crime and insecurity.
In his welcome address, Farah said the maiden convocation marked an important milestone in NITT’s development following its expansion into National Board for Technical Education-accredited programmes in 2021.

He said the expansion had enabled the institute to offer National Innovation Diploma, National Skills Qualification, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.

Farah said NITT remained committed to professionalising Nigeria’s transport and logistics industry through education, professional training, research, consultancy and technical innovation.

He added that the institute’s programmes combine classroom learning with practical training while exposing students to current developments in the transport and logistics industry.

Farah said the curriculum would continue to be reviewed and updated to reflect emerging industry requirements.