FG Plans Abuja Rail Extension To Zaria, Kaduna, Kano, Daura, Katsina
The Federal Government has announced plans to extend rail services from Abuja to Zaria, Kaduna, Kano, Daura and Katsina, with the initiative expected to create new employment opportunities and strengthen transportation connectivity across the northern region.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Olufunsho Adebiyi, disclosed this on Friday at the maiden convocation ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Adebiyi said the Federal Government was investing heavily in transport infrastructure and urged young Nigerians, particularly graduates of the institute, to acquire the skills needed to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the sector.
He said the planned rail expansion would allow passengers to travel by train from Abuja through Kaduna and Zaria to Kano, Daura and Katsina from January next year.
“By January next year, you can join a train from Abuja to Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Daura, and Katsina,” Adebiyi said.
The permanent secretary, who disclosed that he was a graduate of NITT, said the training he received at the institution in 1995, alongside other professional programmes, contributed significantly to his career development.
He commended NITT for its contribution to manpower development in Nigeria’s transport sector through professional training, capacity building and research.
Adebiyi also praised the institute’s Director-General and Chief Executive, Bayero Salih Farah, for his leadership and commitment to the development of the institution.
He further announced automatic employment for the two overall best graduating students of the institute and offered them scholarships to pursue degree programmes.
The permanent secretary called on members of the National Assembly to support similar educational initiatives, citing the scholarship programme sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
He said such interventions would help empower young Nigerians and contribute to efforts to address crime and insecurity.
In his welcome address, Farah said the maiden convocation represented a significant milestone in the institute’s development, following its expansion into National Board for Technical Education-accredited programmes in 2021.
According to him, the expansion enabled NITT to offer National Innovation Diploma, National Skills Qualification, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes.
Farah said the institute remained committed to professionalising Nigeria’s transport and logistics industry through education, professional training, research, consultancy and technical innovation.
He noted that the programmes were designed to combine theoretical knowledge with practical application while exposing students to developments within the transport industry.
He added that NITT would continue to review its curriculum to ensure that it remained relevant to emerging industry requirements.
Farah expressed appreciation to Abbas for sponsoring more than 200 students through his scholarship programme and urged the graduands to become worthy ambassadors of the institution.
Represented by the Director of the National Water Resources Institute, Abduljalal Danbaba, Abbas congratulated the graduands and encouraged them to deploy their knowledge and skills productively.
The ceremony featured the presentation of prizes to outstanding students, while more than 200 graduands received certificates and diplomas in various transport and logistics-related programmes.
Graduands of the National Vocational Certificate programme also received starter kits to enable them to put their acquired skills into practice.
The event was attended by the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, represented by Abbas Ahmed Fatika; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Bello Sabo, representing the Vice-Chancellor; and the Director, Transport Planning and Coordination, Jane Ojinta, among other dignitaries.
