Rotimi Amaechi: Minister Transportation

The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, said the ministry would design the rail lines to connect Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto in line with the mandate to have rail in all the state capitals.

Amaechi made this disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

He said that the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari was to have functional rail system in the 36 states of the federation.

“We are here for the National Council on Transportation with the theme; ‘Efficiency of Intermodalism in Transportation and how to take transport to a greater level.

“I know what will interest you is we want to design the Sokoto and Kebbi rail lines, there are three states or four states in this design plan.

“This includes whether connecting from Katsina or Kano; the three states are Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara.

“And we are working towards taking it to the Senate for approval and once it is approved, it will complete the 36 states mandate given to us,” he said.

Responding, Tambuwal welcome the stakeholders to Sokoto and assured the ministry of his continued support to move transportation forward in the state.

Tambuwal implored the Federal Government to assist in the area of security at the airport by providing scanners at the place.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Land, Transport, Olugbenga Ashafa, lauded the governor for paying the arrears and salaries of civil servants and pensioners in the state since 2011.

He also lauded the state for its focus on agricultural production of guinea corn, millet and rice. (NAN)