By Abdulrahman Abdullahi
The Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission Engr. Elias Mbam on Thursday said the approval and launching of the Eastern Rail Corridor by President Muhammadu Buhari will make Southeast and the entire nation a more robust economy in Africa.
Mbam made this known in a statement where he assured the President of the continuous support of the south-east region toward his administration until 2023.
He said: “It is with utmost delight that I express my profound gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari for approving and launching the Eastern Rail Corridor which passes through my home town of Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
“Abakaliki is strategically located on the corridor between the northern part of the country and the rest of the southeast and serves as a major gateway between the southeastern part of Nigeria and the nearby country of Cameroon.
“The transportation of goods especially agricultural products from northern states of Taraba up to Borno to the southeast is possible through the Ogoja-Abakaliki trunk A route.
“The new railway line passing through Abakaliki serves to bridge the gap between the southeast and the northern part of the country in areas of agricultural commerce and trade.
“It is imperative to point out that Ebonyi is vastly known for its agricultural endowments, especially in rice farming. In fact, the popular Abakaliki rice has the capacity, if well commercialized, to contribute greatly to improving food security in Nigeria.
“Ebonyi State is also known for its rich mineral resources – the abundance of lead, zinc, iron ore, granites and more which are harnessed in commercial quantity – have the capacity to not only boost the economy of the state but contribute to the country’s GDP if there are easy means of transportation of these resources from the state to a wider market across the country.
