Yobe Residents Urge Tinubu To Hasten Proposed Buni-Yadi-Gashu’a, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail Projects

Considering the role of railways in easing transportation of goods and services, as well as boosting economic activities, the people of Yobe State have renewed their calls on the need for commencement and execution of the proposed Buni-Yadi-Damaturu-Gashu’a rail line, as well as the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri railway projects promised by the immediate past administration.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government had, in march 2021, proposed the construction of rail line from Buni-Yadi-Damaturu to Gashu’a town, as part of the launched Eastern Narrow Gauge railway line from PortHarcourt to Maiduguri which cuts across towns and villages in Yobe State, including Buni-Yadi, the headquarters of Gujba local government area.

A 73 year-old man in Buni-Yadi, Mallam Adamu, while speaking on the proposed project initiated by the Buhari administration, said embarking on the project remained the surest way of facilitating post-insurgency recovery process, taking into cognisance the role played by railway operations on the livelihood and economic well-being of the people in that area in the past.

“We all celebrated the news of the launching of the Eastern Narrow Gauge railway line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which cut across our town Buni-Yadi. We were particularly pleased that another rail line will start from here to Damaturu up to Gashu’a town of Yobe State.

“You see, in the entire Yobe State, only the Buni-Yadi axis located at the southern part of the state and Nguru at the northern part have railways constructed in the 1960s. Though trains stopped coming into Buni-Yadi in the late 90s, I can boldly tell you that the importance of railways to socio-economic development of the people cannot be overemphasised, hence the need for execution of the project by the Tinubu administration.”

Also a resident of Nguru town, Ibrahim Isa Nguru said, “As a person who saw and knew the significance of the train services on the economy of the people, I cannot wait to see the commencement of the proposed Buni-Yadi-Damaturu-Gashu’a railway project.

“As I am talking to you, trains still visit our town at least two times a week carrying passengers and their goods. And despite challenges associated with its operations, people prefer to patronise it due to its affordability and safety.

“The truth of the matter is, if the federal government can work towards executing the proposed Buni-Yadi-Damaturu-Gashu’a rail way, many towns and villages along the lines will witness unprecedented growth as the payment gab of luggage or goods loaded on the train and those on the trucks are incomparable not to talk of safety and security of both the passengers and goods.”

Also, Governor Mai Mala Buni has after the report of the proposed rail project across Yobe State by the federal government in 2021, commended the initiative describing it as a path towards opening up more communities in addition to enhancing economic activities.