The motion sponsor said the provision of rail lines linking all the geo-political zones would save lives and relieve the pressure on the already failing road infrastructure.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to construct new railway lines in the South-South, South-East, North-Central, and North-western parts of Nigeria.
The House noted that an expansion of the rail transport system to other parts of the country would be beneficial to the country’s economic growth.
This call followed the adoption of a motion on the “Extension of Rail Lines to Cover the South-South, South-East, North Central and Northwest Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria” sponsored by Rep. Marcus Onobun (PDP Edo), at the plenary on Thursday.
Onobun, in his lead debate, noted that the Nigeria rail transportation has huge potential if adequately harnessed.
He said the existing rail lines should be expanded, and linked to other geo-political zones
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This, according to him, is essential because of their capacity to convey a large number of people and huge volumes of goods from one place to another.
He noted that due to the low-risk factor of the Rail Transportation System, the immediate past administration of General Muhammadu Buhari designed a blueprint to ensure the completion of abandoned rail projects as well as commence new ones, adding that 168-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna rail track was completed and put to use, and the 157-kilometre Lagos-Ibadan as well as the Warri-Ajaokuta rail of 327 kilometres were completed.
The lawmaker, however, said that the non-provision of rail lines linking the South-South to the South- East to the North-Central and North-West geo Political Zones, hampered transportation of huge volumes of goods and passengers, creating avoidable and unnecessary pressure on the already failing road infrastructure, with the attendant gridlocks, and waste of human and economic resources.
“The construction of a 269.12km Abuja-Baro-Itakpe rail, with branch lines of Jakura- Lokoja and Agbahor-Warri City will not only bring ease of movement for people and goods but will also enhance socio-economic growth of the country as a whole,” he stated.
