LOKOJA – President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday promised to construct a rail line
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between Abuja and Lokoja as part of measures to fast-track the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Addressing PDP supporters in Lokoja, Jonathan said that the engineering design of the rail line, which would run through Ajaokuta, would soon be approved.
The president said that Kogi occupied an important position in the history of Nigeria and must be properly linked to encourage entrepreneurship, trade and commerce and create wealth for the people.
He said that the Federal Government was committed to the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company, adding that all legal issues slowing down its completion had been resolved.
“We are not playing politics with Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company. Legal issues have been holding down its completion,” the president said.
He said the final legal documents for the resuscitation of the company would be signed in a couple of weeks from now.
Jonathan said that in line with the Federal Government’s new automobile policy, which states that at least 65 per cent of components of vehicles be sourced locally, the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Company would be of immense help.
“For us to achieve this, iron, fibre and other raw materials must be produced in Nigeria,” he said.
The president also said his administration had been able to rehabilitate over 20,000km of the 35,000km of the federal road network in the country.
He called on Nigerians to re-elect him to complete the remaining roads in the next four years.
He commended the founding fathers of the state for their roles in the development of Nigeria and the formation of the PDP and urged the people to remain steadfast and continue to support the party.
The National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, described Jonathan as tolerant and cool headed.
The chairman said the president had not victimised members of the opposition and that no Nigerian was living in exile because of their political differences with the president.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo in his remarks expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their support to the PDP and urged them to vote massively for the party in the forth-coming elections.
Sambo said the state would continue to be accorded due priority in the scheme of things.
He said the Federal Government would ensure the quick actualisation of the Alape Crop processing Zone in the state and other ongoing federal projects.
The President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, said that Jonathan deserved to be re-elected because he had fulfilled all the promises made to the North-Central Zone during 2011 electioneering campaign.
He urged the people of the state to reciprocate by voting massively the president and other PDP national assembly candidates.
The Director-General of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation, Dr Ahmadu Ali, appealed to the people to stand firm and not be stampeded into voting against their conscience during the coming elections.
He said the state had benefitted tremendously from the administration of Jonathan and urged the people to vote for him so that the state would continue to experience transformation.
The state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, earlier in an address of welcome enumerated all the federal projects in the state.
He said that the people had no regrets casting their lots with the PDP since inception in 1999 and assured Jonathan that the people would reciprocate by voting massively for him and other candidates of the party.
Wada thanked Jonathan for fulfilling his 2011 electoral promises to the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25,000 capacity Lokoja Confluence Stadium was filled to capacity by party supporters. (NAN)