18th May, 2011
President Goodluck Jonathan has said that rail transit system would bring down the cost of cement and other goods in Nigeria if exploited adequately.
Jonathan made the statement on Tuesday in Ilorin while inaugurating a 52-km mass transit rail transportation service.
The project, which is a joint partnership between the Nigerian Railway Corporation and the Kwara Government, will cover some parts of the state’s capital and Offa Town in Offa Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the excuse given for the high cost of cement and other goods was premised on transportation, noting that the solution to the problem lied in rail mass transit.
Jonathan said that the project was a lofty idea that would ameliorate the suffering of people of the state as an alternative means of transportation.
Alhaji Hassan Sulieman, the Minister of Transport, said that the rail mass transit, which covered some rural parts of the state, would assist farmers to convey their produce to the towns.
He said that the rail would cover some parts of Ilorin West, Asa and Offa Local Government Areas.
Gov. Bukola Saraki of Kwara said that the State Government embarked on the project to ease the transportation problem encountered by the people.