President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met with the Progressive Governors Forum at the State House, Abuja.
Also present at the meeting was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
26 July 2016 | STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE COMMISSIONING AND FLAG-OFF CEREMONY OF ABUJA (IDU)-KADUNA STANDARD GAUGE TRAIN SERVICE ON TUESDAY, 26TH JULY, 2016
Protocol.
I am delighted to be here today to commission the Abuja – Kaduna railway track and flag-off the Abuja-Kaduna train services (Passengers & Freight) on Nigeria’s first ever Standard Gauge Rail track to go into operation. This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it.
2. It is on record that between 1963 and early ‘80s, Nigeria had a vibrant rail system which conveyed agricultural and livestock and solid mineral resources to Lagos and Port Harcourt sea ports from where they are exported to other parts of the world. It is our vision and hope that those good old days will soon be back with us and indeed in a more prosperous way with the restoration of rail transport system which today’s occasion symbolises.
3. The construction of the Abuja-Kaduna Standard Gauge rail track commenced in 2009 and happily, seven years after, we are on the threshold of presenting to Nigerians a Standard Gauge Railway Train Service that will be safe, fast and reliable. The Abuja-Kaduna train service will provide the much needed alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State, a corridor which has a huge potential for industries, agricultural activities and a growing labour force.
4. The Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi and his team have put great efforts in the last few months to ensure the successful completion of this project under this Administration. Completion and Commissioning of this project is indeed in keeping with our vision of bringing about the desired change to make life easier for the generality of Nigerians through the development and provision of the necessary social and physical infrastructure.
5. In this regard, I wish to assure Nigerians that most State capitals and major commercial and production centres will be linked with railway system as a way of bringing about rapid socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of the Nigerians and promoting social & regional integration.
6. Furthermore, I wish to also reassure Nigerians that due attention will be placed on pursuing the 25-Year Strategic Railway Master Plan which is aimed at rehabilitating the existing 3,505km narrow gauge rail line and developing and constructing new standard gauge rail lines across the country.
7. As we celebrate the symbolic return of rail service today I wish to reiterate the commitment of this Administration to pursue with greater vigour and determination rehabilitation and construction of other rail lines including the major Lagos-Calabar and Kano-Lagos lines.
8. As we get down to work, I look forward to flagging off many more lines outlined in our transport policy programme.
Thank you, and safe journey to all our travellers.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday commissioned the $1.457 billion Abuja- Kaduna standard-gauge rail line.
While commissioning the high speed rail services at the Idu Station in Abuja, the president said that the Federal Government plans to link all states and commercial centres in the country by rail.
As part of the official flag-off, Buhari rode in the train from Idu to Kubwa station.
Monday, 25 July 2016
Troops on counter-terrorism operations on Monday rescued the wife and daughter of the Shehu of Bama who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
However, the royal father's son who was abducted alongside his mother and sister was not that lucky as he killed by the terrorists soon after the abduction.
Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu has reunited the rescued queen and her daughter with the royal family.
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Tuesday July 26, 2016 commission the Abuja—Kaduna standard-gauge Railway Line, and flag-off commercial operations on the route.
The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has last week conducted an inspection tour of the project in preparation for Tuesday's commissioning.
Tempers are running high in Karagi community in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State following the beheading of a 45-year-old farmer by people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
A member of the community said that the killing which happened on Sunday was the latest in a series of attacks on the indigens by Fulani herdsmen.
The victim who was identified as Adama Mohammed was reportedly working in his farm when he was attacked by his assailants.
With tempers rising high among the locals, Fulani herdsmen in the area are said to have fled for fear of reprisal attacks.
According to Amina, the wife of the diseased who is nursing a two month old baby, she raised the alarm when her husband did not return from the farm as expected.
The community then organized a search party which found the headless body of the victim in his farm with machete cuts all over.
A relation of the deceased said that he had been complaining about cattle destroying his crops for some time.
“This my cousin who just died now used to complain about the Fulanis. They used to carry their cows to come and destroy his own crops. I believe its through them that this thing happened," he said.
Another member of the community who was in the search party described how the victim was butchered by his killers.
“I followed the family members who came here to take him to the village. When we got here, there was machete wound on all parts of his body. After they killed him, they caught off his head and stabbed him on his stomach," he said.
The villagers are said to have been having running battles with Fulani herdsmen over the destruction of their crops by cattle.
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