Govt to link state capital cities by rail

THE Federal Government has unfolded plans to link all the state capital cities by rail.
   Already, President Goodluck Jonathan has pledged to extend the rail line from Kano to Katsina to ease the movement of people and goods within the two states as part of the national rail network expansion project.
   Meanwhile, the President has described Ogun State as the most Industrially developed state in the country and attributed the state's new status to the economic plan of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.
  The President, who spoke in Katsina on the first day of his two-day visit to the state before commissioning the three- lane 48-kilometre Katsina ring road, lauded the foresight and infrastructural drive of the Shema- led administration in the state.
  The President noted that politics is about infrastructural development and creating an enabling environment for business to thrive saying that if government must provide reliable means of transportation to over 170 million Nigerians, it must link  all major cities with including Katsina to the rail line.
  Though the proposed rail project had not been captured in the Federal Government’s projects, the President assured that his administration would include it as soon as possible.
   “We believe that for the government to provide mass transit to over 170 million Nigerians, it needs to extend rail network linking all the major cities including Katsina”, he said.
  He pointed out that the Federal Government was targeting to reach all the state 3capitals in the country with rail lines, believing that it would assist to reduce costs of petroleum products to Nigerians and enhance socio-economic in the country.
  Jonathan also assured that the Federal Government would develop Zobe water project to provide drinking water to people and enhance agricultural activities in the area.
  He described agriculture as one of the areas where government can create wealth to create and guarantee food security.
  On the windmill power project at Lambar-rimi, the President pointed out that project was not directly under the Federal Government, but assured that it would ensure that project was completed within a short period of time.
  Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the commissioning of the Procter and Gamble multi million-dollar plant in Agbara, Ogun State, affirmed that the Amosun-led administration has been creating a conducive environment for business to thrive in the state.
  The President further expressed the readiness of the Federal Government to partner with the state government in its rebuilding mission.
   "I believe Ogun State is the most industrially developed state in this country. We will partner with you. We will work with you based on synergies and policies that allow for business to thrive", he said.
  The President revealed that the contract for the construction of a standard gauge fast train that will connect Lagos through Ogun State to Ibadan has been awarded, adding that, "Olorunsogo power plant in Ogun has been successfully completed and privatised".
  While pointing out that plans for the long awaited Lagos-Sokoto Road had reached an advanced stage, the president emphasised that, its designs are being completed and the work will be executed under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
  "Federal Government is building an additional power transmission system as well as investing in development of gas infrastructure to support the efforts of the state government", he said.
  Amosun disclosed that the commissioning of the plant  was the 43rd he would be performing in less than three years of his administration, stating that the newly commissioned multi million dollar investment would create 2000 direct and indirect job opportunities for the people of the state.
  He charged all industries resident in the state to be up and doing in their corporate social responsibility to their host communities while reiterating that his administration would not shirk its responsibility in providing security and enabling environment for investors.