The Federal Government has announced that the Nigeria-Niger Republic rail project will enhance trade and other socioeconomic interactions between the two countries. Henshaw Ogubike, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Transportation, conveyed this message following a statement made by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project in Abuja. Sambo emphasized that the rail line, which will connect Kano State in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic, is expected to support the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, to which both Nigeria and Niger are signatories.
Sambo acknowledged the deep-rooted blood relationships that exist across the borders, stating that the project would further strengthen the historical and cultural ties between the people of Nigeria and Niger Republic. He highlighted the significance of the rail project in promoting inter-nation and continental trade. To facilitate the implementation of the project, he announced that a technical committee would be established within seven days, as outlined in Article 3 of the MoU. The nomination of committee members and their inauguration is expected to be completed by the first week of February 2023. Following this inauguration, the technical committee will oversee the facilitation and implementation of the rail project.
Earlier in the event, Alma Oumarou, the Minister of Transportation for the Republic of Niger, echoed Sambo’s sentiments, stating that the rail project will not only strengthen cultural ties between the two nations but also create job opportunities. Additionally, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, noted that work on the Kano-Maradi rail line has been ongoing for the past two years. She expressed optimism that the signing of the MoU would accelerate the project’s completion.
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