The Growth and Development of Northern Nigeria (GDNN), a political pressure group, has called on governors in Northern Nigeria to develop a regional railway network system to boost the region’s economy.
Malam Haruna Buhari, Acting Secretary of the Public Policy Advocacy Unit of GDNN, made the call during a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
The GDNN was established to promote and facilitate investment in Northern Nigeria, with the goal of transforming the region and enhancing the well-being of its people.
“The 19 Northern States’ governors, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, should explore the possibility of syndicating a single facility aimed at developing a regional railway network.
“This network should connect the North-West and North-East, and be carefully routed through the North-Central states to Abuja in the long run,” he added.
Buhari emphasised the importance of rehabilitating and putting existing railway infrastructure back into use, noting that this would reduce the cost of transporting raw materials, goods, and services from the seaport cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt.
He said such a move would also facilitate the movement of containers to inland ports, reduce overall costs, and improve the economic and industrial competitiveness of the region.
“These efforts will further extend the lifespan of our roads, which are currently in poor condition, and restore economic activities in the towns and villages along the rail line stations,” he stated.
Buhari urged the governors to be more proactive in identifying opportunities and to avoid operating in isolation to the detriment of the region’s economy.
He also appealed to wealthy individuals from the North to assist in addressing the plight of homeless children roaming the streets and sleeping in garages, markets, and under bridges.
Noting the rising rate of drug abuse among young people in the region, Buhari specifically called on prominent Northern figures such as retired Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Aliko Dangote, and AbdulSamad Rabiu to intervene.
He urged them to delegate representatives to collaborate with GDNN in tackling the crisis and finding lasting solutions.
On energy, Buhari said significant improvement in electricity supply could be achieved by expanding the energy mix beyond gas and hydro power.
He advised governors to explore solar, wind, biomass/biofuel, nuclear, and clean coal power options, aiming to increase power generation to 30,000 MW by 2030 and 100,000 MW by 2050.
“This can be achieved through the recent enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, which empowers states to create their own electricity markets,” he said.
He urged Northern governors to take advantage of the legislation and quickly establish state-level electricity markets, particularly in light of the imminent decentralisation of the national grid.
“Northern states, apart from hosting major hydro power plants, also have the greatest solar energy potential in the country,” Buhari noted. (NAN)
