The Federal Government on Thursday assured that it would extend rail lines to all state capitals to enhance economic activities in the country.
President Goodluck Jonathan gave the assurance in Katsina when he visited the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, in his palace.
Jonathan, who was responding to a request by the Emir, said: “I assure you that the federal government will include this project even if it was not in our projection.’’
“We believe that for the government to provide mass transit to over 170 million Nigerians, it needs to extend rail network linking all the major cities, including Katsina,’’ he said, adding that it had plans to reach all state capitals by rail.
He said that rail service would help reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products to Nigerians and enhance socio-economic development of the country.
Jonathan also assured that the government would develop the Zobe Water Project to provide drinking water to the people and enhance agricultural activities in the area.
He said that agriculture was an area the government had earmarked to create wealth for the people.
On the Windmill Power Project at Lambar-rimi, the president said that the project was not directly under federal government supervision.
He assured that government would ensure that the project was completed within a short time.
Earlier, the Emir lauded the federal and Katsina State governments for the numerous projects being executed in the state, adding that they had direct bearing on the poor.
Kabair commended Jonathan for the visit, and urged Nigerians to continue to pray for peace in the country.
