The Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Kayode Opeifa, has revealed that the Kano-Maradi Railway project is crucial for improving food security in Nigeria.
According to Opeifa, the rail connection between Nigeria and the Niger Republic is vital because mobility plays a central role in the food supply chain.
Mobility central to food security
“When you take mobility out of logistics and supply chain, you are just joking, and that’s what Nigerian managers of our food security should understand.
Mobility is at the center of food security, and that’s what the Kano-Maradi railway will represent,” Opeifa said on Channels Television’s Sunrise.
Opeifa explained that the African Union’s Agenda 2063 encourages countries to link with landlocked countries, citing the potential benefits.
“According to AU 2063, African countries are encouraged to link with landlocked countries because there is potential in those countries. The food security for Nigeria and West Africa in cereal and livestock is tied to Maradi,” he added.
The NRC MD assured that the Federal Government is committed to developing a new infrastructure map of rail, connecting major cities and introducing new rail lines across the country. With the rail system now on the concurrent list, states can access grants to develop their rail lines.
Opeifa also highlighted the government’s efforts to involve locals in protecting rail infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of community participation in safeguarding national assets.
