Development of railways to create 250,000 jobs – Amaechi.

  
Federal Government has disclosed that its plan to massively improve railway infrastructure in the country would provide about 250,000 job opportunities.

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, who stated this during the weekend, also promised that the Ministry of Transportation under his leadership would work to raise transport sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 1.41 per cent.
He explained that President Muhammadu Buhari’s plans for Nigerians, especially in the area of job creation can be actualised through the transport industry, which he said has the capacity to contribute more to the nation’s GDP.
While noting that Nigeria suffers the bane of inadequate transport infrastructure, Amaechi said the federal government would use opportunities that abound in the sector to build the economy in the way some countries such as South Korea and Singapore have done.
His words: “The railways have suffered significant neglect even though it is the cheapest mode of transportation. The current state of railway is an indication of severe neglect and it is a chaotic situation, with government spending without any return on investments.
“Government will focus on railway to encourage mass transit of and cargo freights by railway. The current government is planning massive investment into the standard gauge whose constructions will begin 2016, with the Calabar-Lagos coastal railway”.
On seafarers’ development, the minister expressed dismay that opportunities for sea time experience for cadets were lacking.
Source..Daily Times