President Muhammadu Buhari says the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri railway route will reactivate economic activity along the Eastern corridor, which have been greatly affected by insecurity.
President Buhari said this on Tuesday at the virtual ground-breaking ceremony of the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt– Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge railway project, Bonny Deep Sea port and the Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt.
President Buhari said the country’s transport infrastructure would be significantly enhanced by these three projects .
‘‘The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost trans-shipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area.
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‘‘The sum of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these projects includes creation of massive employment locally.
‘‘In addition, there will be further utilization of local contents and technology transfer, increase in internally generated revenue and would serve as a fulcrum for the achievement of the Federal Government planned Integrated Development Masterplan,’’
The President urged all Nigerians especially industrialists, manufacturers and businesses within the zones to take maximum advantage of the infrastructure in planning for expansion and building new factories.
Editor-Oloyede Oworu
