‘Road transporters not threatened by railway modernization’

Transporters under the aegis of the Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) have backed the Federal Government’s railway modernization projects across the country, saying they were not threatened by the massive revival and resurgence of railways lines.

Lagos State Chairman and Deputy National President (Administration) of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Muhammed in a chat with newsmen in Lagos said they are not afraid of plans to bring back the railway.

According to him, no nation develops without inter-modal system as all modes of transportation complement one another.

Musa noted that railway lines cannot get every corner of the nation and that trucks would still be needed to transport goods from railway stations to different destinations.

He said, “Why should we be afraid of railway?We thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government for reviving the railway. Look at the AbujaKaduna standard gauge which is working perfectly well.

“For 32 years, the Ajaokuta-Asaba rail was moribund but now it has been revived. You can see what is happening from Lagos to Ibadan. We need to support this government.”

He said the road transporters are unanimous in supporting the railway modernization drive, insisting it poses no threat to their operations.

“Let me ask you, will rail get everywhere? The railway modernization is a progress that I and majority of our members are happy about and we are praying for the government to succeed in that area”, he added.