SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ARC MOHAMMED NAMADI SAMBO, fnia, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KADUNA STATE AT THE SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) AND FLAG-OFF OF KADUNA MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TRANSPORT ON 30^th MAY, 2008

PROTOCOL

It is with pleasure that I stand before you today to perform this very important project. The signing of Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with Nigerian Railway Corporation and flagging-off of the first phase of Kaduna State Railway Mass Transit Scheme. This is intended to address the biting problem of transportation of goods and services within Kaduna metropolis in the first instance and to complement our other transportation initiatives

This innovation, we intend to extend further by covering the entire State from Sanga to Ikara and from Makarfi to Kafanchan. We believe that by the time we are able to achieve this, we would have not only addressed the pressing transport problems our people are facing, but importantly, open a channel of improving free movement of people and products from the farms to the marketplace thus paving way for enhanced economic growth and development.

It is a well-known fact the world over that the most affordable and convenient means of haulage is the railway. Unfortunately, in the last two decades, the Nigerian railway system has been in comatose. It is our desire to bring forth initiatives that are capable of impacting positively on the lives of our people, which we believe is an important segment in the drive to having a peaceful and prosperous society.

We are commissioning this Railway Mass Transit at a historic moment when we are marking our First Year in office and the 100 Years of the Existence of Kaduna as a Capital City and the Headquarters of the defunct Northern Nigeria.

You are all aware that one of the important factors that gave Kaduna its cosmopolitan content was the railway. Several other major cities across the world enjoyed boost in population and economy by the simple fact that they either served as major railway terminals or have rail lines passing through them.

The Railway Mass Transit is an ambitious project which we believe will go a long way in opening up the economy of the state.

Let me use this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Hon Minister of Transport, Mrs. Dizine Allison Maduekwe for her support and that of her ministry extended to us in the actualization of this scheme. We urge her to continue to extend this usual friendship, which will go a long way in enhancing understanding and loyalty between the people and the government.

The contribution and support of Mazi J.C. Nwankwo, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, is equally enormous in our drive to attain this feat. We urge him and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to extend hands of friendship especially as we move into the Second Phase of the Railway Mass Transit in Kaduna State.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as a mark of our desire to rescue the hardship of our people in the transportation sector, the fare from the two extreme stations shall be N40 and N20 respectively.

In conclusion, distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this project is one noble initiative, which is a clear message of our desire and intention to address those problems that are pressing to our people. I urge all people of the State to embrace the culture of peace and unity as the best assets to economic growth, political development and social harmony. On our part, no stone will be left unturned in ensuring that the enabling environment for peaceful coexistence is solidly laid

It is with the blessing of God and service to humanity that I declare the Railway Mass Transit, First Phase open.

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