NACCIMA DG, Amb Ayo Olukanni  has commended the flagging off of the Rail line traversing  Kano, Katsina up to Maradi  in Niger Republic by President Bhuari saying that it  is a welcome development and strategic move to boost economic activities along the entire rail  line in this  corridor and up to Maradi, Niger Republic.

“This is considering the importance of such standard  rail  infrastructure to boost trade and economic ties  with our  neighbours and improve standard of living of millions of  people in the respective States the line will pass through  and our  neighbouring country Niger Republic.”

“We also see this new rail link as a peoples  oriented  project for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development;   in line with the vision of  ECOWAS to upscale transport infrastructure in the ECOWAS Subregion.  It is worthy of note that this rail project will  enhance faster and free movement of people   as envisioned under ECOWAS.  It  will also help to expand trade and Economic activities between people on this rail corridor, and others  from various  Geoeconomic zones in the country including the Northern Geo economic zone and  Niger Republic the DG said.”

As a land locked country the people and economic operators in Niger Republic,  will be delighted with this development because on completion this standard gauge  rail system will significantly improve  transportation  logistics and expand  the volume  of goods and industrial raw materials,  which are currently conveyed as in-transit goods by trucks  from  Nigerian ports all the way to Niger Republic with attendants problems.

An efficient Rail system will certainly be of greater advantage and much  better. Similarly  in context of the Afcfta this railway line is an appropriate transport infrastructure which the Afcta Agreement also  underscored as part of the needed infrascture to facicilate movement of goods for the successful implementation of the Agreement. As an extension of the rail sector in the Western Axis, the Kano Maradi line is indeed a visionary move that will boost  logistics supplies all the way from the coastal ports in Nigeria to the various states it will pass through and up to Niger Republic.

And  as the network of this standard guage Railway across the country gathers speed we  appeal for improved innovative  private sector participation in the development and operations of the  various rail sectors across the country Ayo said.