The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has assured traditional rulers and people of Kogi East of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to infrastructure development, including the possible revival of the long-awaited Ajaokuta-Otukpo-Onne railway project.
Akume gave the assurance when a delegation of traditional rulers from Kogi East, led by the Eje Dekina, Dr Usman Onaje Obaje, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on behalf of the Attah Igala and President of the Kogi State Council of Chiefs, Dr Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa.
The SGF said he would convey the traditional rulers’ request to President Bola Tinubu and push for the project to be considered in the next federal budget.
“I will tell His Excellency Mr President that this is one of your requests and hopefully it will be included in the next budget,” Akume said.
The Ajaokuta-Otukpo-Onne rail corridor has long been projected as a strategic transport route linking the Ajaokuta steel complex and mineral-producing areas of central Nigeria with the River Niger corridor and the eastern seaports.
The traditional rulers told the SGF that reviving the project would address a major logistics challenge facing the Ajaokuta Steel Plant while opening up opportunities for trade, industrialisation and movement of raw materials and finished products.
Speaking on behalf of the Attah Igala, the Eje Dekina said the delegation came to present the concerns of the Igala people and Kogi State to the Federal Government.
Obaje urged President Tinubu to revisit the rail project and restore it to the Federal Government’s development plans.
He recalled that the original planning of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant recognised the need for an efficient transportation system for bulk raw materials, including iron ore, coking coal, dolomite and limestone.
According to him, access to seaports and river ports was considered essential to making the steel plant economically viable.
He said attempts to rely on the River Niger for the movement of the required bulk materials were found to be inadequate, making the rail option critical.
The traditional rulers said the completion of the Ajaokuta-Otukpo-Onne rail project could have significant implications for Nigeria’s economy, including its Gross Domestic Product, while also stimulating economic activities in Kogi State and other states along the corridor.
The delegation also drew the Federal Government’s attention to several federal roads in Kogi East that they said required urgent reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Among them are the Shintaku-Odugbo-Dekina-Olowa-Abocho-Ugbabo road, Ajiolo-Anyigba road and the Idah-Odolu-Nsukka Federal Road.
Akume, while responding to the delegation, reiterated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to policies and projects aimed at promoting economic growth and national development.
He also described himself as a detribalised Nigerian committed to ensuring that every part of the country is carried along in the development process.
“Tinubu is detribalised. When he is making appointments, he looks at the records,” Akume said.
The SGF cited the Chief of Army Staff as an example, describing him as a “wonderful officer” and commending the military’s efforts against insurgency.
Akume also commended traditional rulers for their role in promoting peace, security and stability in their communities.
Earlier, Obaje commended the President for what he described as his developmental strides and appealed for greater federal intervention in infrastructure across Kogi East.
He also assured the President of the support of the state for his 2027 re-election bid.
The delegation included Dr Madisca Achile Haruna and several traditional chiefs from Kogi East.