December 22, 2014 – President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has observed that the listing of Nigeria’s High Speed Rail Project(Naija Rail) among the world’s top 100 infrastructure projects and the near completion of Abuja – Kaduna Rail is noting but an indication that Nigeria is witnessing a rail revolution.
The President who was commenting on his Facebook page said he received the listing of the project among world’s top 100 project with a sense of fulfillment adding that it is a thing of joy that his administration’s desires to link commercial and administrative capitals with high speed rail is receiving global affirmation.
“This Forward March to progress will continue, with your cooperation, until Nigeria’s infrastructure, be they roads, schools, airports or hospitals, are listed as amongst the best in the world. And by God’s grace, this will happen in the not too distant future”, he said.
“I received the news that Nigeria’s Interstate High Speed Rail Project has been listed amongst the world’s top 100 infrastructure projects with a sense of fulfillment that this administration’s desire to link our commercial and administrative capitals is receiving global affirmation.
“Coming at a time when the Abuja-Kaduna rail project has reached near completion stage, one can say Nigeria is witnessing a railway revolution.
“This Forward March to progress will continue, with your cooperation, until Nigeria’s infrastructure, be they roads, schools, airports or hospitals, are listed as amongst the best in the world. And by God’s grace, this will happen in the not too distant future. GEJ”.
The Nigeria high speed rail is to be constructed at a cost of $13 billion by China Railway Construction Company and it will connect Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Warri, Bauchi, Abuja, and Port Harcourt and will be financed with a loan from the Export Import (EXIM) bank of China.
Total length of the rail is 3,218-kilometres and will be digitally operated using fibre-optic cables, radio communication and wireless services. The project is designed to cover 54 stations and will take 25 years to build.
