The minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mua’zu Jaji Sambo has implored any incoming government to continue with the railway modernisation project of the present administration so as to boost economic growth.
He made this remark yesterday in Lagos in an address delivered at a meeting with the management staff of the corporation.
While attributing the comatose witnessed in the corporation to neglect by successive governments, he said, rail development impacted positively the lives of many families through knowledge of languages and inter marriages.
Sambo stated categorically that, if the revenue generated during the oil boom era had been channeled to rail development, the country would have been better for it economically.
The managing director of the corporation, Engr. Fidet Okhiria, in his opening remarks, said one of the cornerstones of economic growth and development of any country through mass movement of freights and people, thereby, creating direct and indirect job opportunities, urbanisation, business expansion and social integration for peaceful coexistence.
He disclosed that the corporation was facing challenges, such as; vandalisation and security but that, the federal government through the federal ministry of Transportation, is doing everything towards ensuring that railway corridor are now properly secured for safety of passengers.
Okhiria also commended the minister for ensuring the release of the remaining hostages of the infamous Abuja-Kaduna Train Service attack.
