President Muhammadu Buhari has praised the Lagos-Ibadan rail and road developments, claiming that if it weren’t for him, residents in the South-West would be trekking between the two regions by now.
Buhari stated this while hosting a delegation from Kaduna State, led by the state deputy governor, Hadiza Sabuwa Balaraba, and the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, at the State House in Abuja, according to Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
Buhari was cited as stating that the Lagos-Ibadan rail and road developments had improved traveling between Lagos and Ibadan in the South-West.
“But we thank the international community. We thank China and Chinese investors, who came along to support the Lagos-Ibadan transport projects.”
The President, who defined infrastructure as critical to any country’s prosperity said, “My objective was very clear, despite the dwindling resources, I wanted to deal with infrastructure across the country.
“We should look at advancement in terms of Infrastructure. No country can advance without infrastructure. There used to be railways, especially people from Southern Kaduna will remember this.
“Which country can really advance without road, rail and power, that’s why I wanted to sort out infrastructure, knowing that Nigerians are competitive by nature, and they will face their businesses when there’s road, rail, and power.”
According to the statement, the President also commended the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stating that he now needs a compass to navigate the state due to recent developments.
He said, “Please extend my gratitude to the Governor for doing so well. I have been living in Kaduna for many years before I came here, but now I will need a modern compass to go around because of the transformation.”
