Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, has pledged to work with the National Assembly “to reform the organisation, structure, and operations of the Nigerian Railway Corporation” if elected.
He also declared that his administration would give top priority to finishing important current national railway projects like those between Lagos and Kano, Benin and Abakaliki, Port Harcourt and Maiduguri, Lagos and Calabar, and Kano and Maradi.
Tinubu made the pledge on Thursday in Abuja during his consultative session with the Federation of Construction Industry in Nigeria FOCI.
He said: “We shall deploy technology and security assets to protect travellers and ensure the safety and integrity of our railway infrastructure.
“We will sustain the investments already made by the Buhari administration and deepen ongoing reforms in the sector. Apart from its cost-effectiveness, enhanced rail use will reduce strain and congestion on our roads and expressways thereby significantly lowering the number of vehicular accidents. My administration will also encourage State Governments to build public transportation or metro systems in their capital cities.
“The metros will link with existing national rail lines and revolutionize urban transport in Nigeria. This will boost commerce and contribute significantly to GDP growth. “
The ex-Lagos State Governor added: I commit to realizing the immense opportunities inherent in the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the first new Seaport in decades, which is more than 90 per cent completed.
“God willing, as we assume the mantle of leadership, we shall build an even more prosperous economy. This means additional investment in relevant infrastructure: Roads, Bridges, Rail, Airports, Schools, Power facilities, Hospitals and more. These will enhance efficiency, support industrial growth, spur trade and investment, and improve the Ease of Doing Business.
“My commitment to increase annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will heavily depend on the quality of the infrastructure we shall build to facilitate and sustain growth in all facets of our national life,” he concluded.
