President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the first phase of the Abuja Light Rail Project.
The 45.245km standard railway line, which runs between the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and the Abuja Metro Station, is said to be the first of its kind in West Africa.
“The completion of this very important project is a dream come true, and clearly demonstrates our administration’s commitment to the realization of critical infrastructural projects,” said Buhari said on Thursday. “The Abuja Light Rail System is further evidence that we are a government that delivers on its promises. A modern rail service will greatly boost the FCT economy and enhance social life.”
Transportation Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kayode Opeifa disclosed that the project, which was initiated about 11 years ago, was financed through counterpart-funding with the China Export-Import (Exim) Bank on the basis of 60 percent from the Chinese and 40 percent from the FCT administration.
The rail links 13 communities with 12 stations at the Abuja Metro, Stadium, Kukwaba 1 and 2, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Airport, Gwagwa Dei-Dei, Kagini, and Gbazango. “Our commitment to the vision for a modern, integrated rail system for Nigeria is total. The 2nd phase of the Abuja Light Rail will connect more parts of the city, while our standard-gauge National Rail is also taking shape, with the Lagos-Ibadan leg currently under construction,” Buhari adds.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party has publicly reached out to the Federal Government for failing to give it credit at the Thursday’s commissioning of the Abuja Light Rail Project by President Buhari. In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiay, the opposition party claimed they “usually watch with amusement whenever the President and the APC seek to claim credit for our achievements in various sectors.
“However, while we understand their predicament of having nothing in their scorecard ahead of the 2019 general elections, we state that poaching the achievements of others cannot help them in any way.”
Photo Credit: AFP
