The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi have said that the idea behind the construction of the rail line from Kano to Maradin in Niger Republic was purely economic rather than political.
Amaechi said people should stop politicising the project as it would create more employment opportunities and enhance imports and exports that would open up Nigeria through neighbouring countries.
He said, “The decision to invest in Kano-Maradin rail line is purely economical; no politics. People are the ones politicising it. I made that decision because there is a competition between the coastal states of Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana. The other three countries are able to move cargoes from these landlocked countries to their seaports for either export or import. They are able to do those businesses but we are not able to do them because the landlocked countries are complaining of crimes. The road is not safe in Nigeria; there is custom interference, police checkpoints here and there. Or we can make them import through our seaports and we drop it off at Maradin where they can use their cargoes,”