Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Tuesday said the Federal Government had approved the design of a rail line project from Abuja to Lokoja in furtherance of government’s efforts to transform the transport sector.
Sambo said this at the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential rally in Lokoja, Kogi.
The vice-president said further that the Warri- Ajaokuta rail line had also been completed and would soon be inaugurated.
“I want to also give the good news that the Warri-Ajaokuta rail line has been 100 percent completed and very soon Mr President will commission that project.
“Also another good news is that the Kaduna-Abuja rail line has been completed It will also be commissioned anytime now.
“But, the most important one is that Mr. President has approved the design of the rail lines from Abuja to Lokoja to Ajaokuta so that we have a fast train line. Thank you very much Mr. President for that and very soon Mr. President will commission that project.
“Furthermore, Mr President has created the enabling environment for the private sector participation in the development of our state.
“One very important information I will give you is that the issue of the development and exploration of oil and gas has reached an advanced stage and there are serious positive prospect in some of the Local Government (Areas) in Kogi with oil and gas.’’
According to him, the laying of rail lines for the Abuja-Kaduna fast-train project had been completed and ready for inauguration.
Sambo further disclosed that the two seaport projects being executed by the Federal Government had reached advanced stages, adding that the private-sector-driven 1,000 megawatts Coal Power Plant Project would also be completed soon.
The vice-president said that another private-sector-driven Steel Company would be built in Kogi State to boost the nation’s automobile sector.
He expressed the hope that the projects, when completed, would provide job opportunities to unemployed people of Kogi and other Nigerians.
Sambo then called on the people of Kogi to continue to support and sustain their loyalty to the PDP by voting for President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP candidates in Feb. 14 and Feb. 28 general elections.
In his remarks, Senate President David Mark reiterated the determination of the people of the North-Central zone to vote enmasse for President Jonathan in the Feb. 14 elections.
He said the people of the zone would remain grateful to the PDP–led Federal Government for embarking on numerous projects across the North-Central parts of the country.
Also addressing the rally, a Senator from Kogi, Mr Smart Odeyemi, assured President Jonathan that the electorate in Kogi had resolved to vote for him and other PDP candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
He commended the President for fulfilling all the electoral promises he made during the 2011 presidential campaign in the state.
