Government committed to evacuation of cargoes from ports by rail – Peterside

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said the Federal Ministry of Transportation is committed to evacuation of cargoes from ports by rail.
This was contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Thursday in Lagos.
According to the statement, Peterside spoke at the inauguration of the Abuja-Kaduna rail services.
He described the inaugurated rail service as the beginning of a revolution in Nigeria’s quest for inter-modal transport system.
The statement quoted the director-general as saying that the ministry is also committed to integrating the various modes of transportation.
According to him, this is more cost-effective, safe and in line with global best practices.
Peterside, however, noted that the rail system was one of Nigeria’s inter-modal transport systems “that is underdeveloped”.
He noted that the shipping industry and the airline industries were fairly developed, with land transport even more.
The director-general said the lack of development of rail transport had negatively impacted on inter-modal transport system in Nigeria.
Peterside said President Muhammadu Buhari was determined to connect major cities and towns with rail transport.
He said these would facilitate the economic and social development of the nation.
The Abuja-Kaduna rail line inaugurated by President Buhari was initiated by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration and partly developed by the Dr. Goodluck Jonathan administration before its completion by the present administration.