The new board Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), and former PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, has said the board was committed to running the rail line from Nigeria through the countries in Africa.
Tukur said this at the NRC headquarters at Ebute-Metta in Lagos, during his maiden corporation facilities’ tour with board members.
He said the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan was working, considering the revitalisation which was observed during the tour.
“The Railway Transformation Project is awakening the sleeping giant of Nigeria. The opportunity is tremendous, and we will work hard under this leadership. I think the sky should be the limit.
“Nigerians should be given what they deserve, and we will give Nigerians a modern railway system, with determination. I can see the zeal, and the desire to give the best. I believe that the Federal government will provide what it requires for the management of railway to meet the need.
“My vision for railway in Nigeria is to build a modern railway for a modern society. I have seen the Chinese built 30,000 miles of rail from Beijing up to Hamburg.
“Nigeria’s railway can even part Africa into two. Why not Lagos to Cotonou and to other countries? It can be done. My vision is Africa. I am looking forward to one day when Nigeria’s rail will move up to Cairo, to Dar es Salaam from Lagos and vice-versa,’’ Tukur said.
The board chairman said his wealth of experience, which made him to build 13 ports for Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) within five years, could help him transform the NRC.
“When the NPA was in the same situation, I and the authority’s management built 13 ports for the authority within five years. If we can do it there, why not here with the members of the NRC board? With the past record, the will and the capacity, we can do more in NRC,’’ Tukur said.
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