In his remarks, Sen. Akume emphasised the importance of the project in significantly transforming Nigeria’s transport infrastructure to enhance economic and industrial growth.
‘‘The proposed project, which is estimated at Two Hundred Billion United States Dollars (US $200 Billion) is envisioned as a multi-phase programme that integrates gas development, power generation and transmission, and the construction of a 4,000-kilometre high-speed rail network connecting major economic corridors of the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt. The project has the potential to significantly transform Nigeria’s transport infrastructure, strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth and deepen national integration’’.

According to the SGF, part of the mandate of the committee is to carefully examine all relevant documentation, verify claims made by the project proponents, review the technical, legal and environmental aspects of the proposal and provide objective, evidence-based recommendations to guide government decision-making.

He further urged members of the Committee to approach the assignment with professionalism, objectivity and patriotism and also engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure due diligence and compliance with international best practices.

The Technical Committee, which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary (Political & Economic Affairs Office), has the following membership: Permanent Secretaries from the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Justice, and Federal Ministry of Environment.

Other members include Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Director-General, Nigeria Governors Forum, Cenral Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), Debt Management Office (DMO), Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation (OSGoF) and Economic, Monitoring & Research Department (OSGF), as the Secretariat.

In his presentation of the proposed project, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of De-Sadel Nigeria Limited, Mr Samuel Ukoh, described the project as an innovative endeavour that will change Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.

According to Mr Ukoh, the project is a 4,000km dual-track high-speed rail that cuts inter-city travel time by 75% and links all 36 states and the FCT. He added that the first phase connects key cities, which include Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt, assuring that it would include the generation of about 3,500 megawatts of power to drive the high-speed rail system.

The post SGF Inaugurates Committee To Review $200b Proposed High-Speed Rail Project appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.

National Assembly, on Thursday, appealed to the members to call off their ongoing strike in the interest of all Nigerians.

The lawmakers assured the resident doctors that their grievances would be resolved in the shortest possible time, Daily Dates Nigeria reports.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, made the appeal during the flag-off of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) sensitization campaign in eight states.

Oloriegbe said, “I appeal to our resident doctors to please go back to work. A strike by any doctor can lead to loss of lives and any life lost can never be regained.

“Every issue about the strike is mostly about money, and we can always pay arrears, but there are no arrears to life.

“In view of this, whatever the issues are, they can always be resolved through dialogue. I call on them to go back to work while discussions are going on.

“The issues are with the Ministry of Health. They have held a meeting, and meetings will continue to ensure that the issues are resolved.”

“It is important that Nigerians have access to health care and access to qualified and competent doctors in our public hospitals. I hope they will listen and yield to this call and ensure that services are restored.”

The Chairman, House Committee on Health, Yusuf Sununu also said “We do know that there are some issues raised and we are working hard to ensure that those issues are resolved within the shortest possible time.

“I do hope that they will get the cooperation of everybody, including the Executive arm of the government so that we can fast-track the calling off of this strike.”

NAFDAC earlier announced that it has embarked on a public sensitisation campaign across the nation, to combat the high rate of unregulated products and their inherent dangers to public health.

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye lamented the alarming rate at which substandard products were being paraded.

Adeyeye noted that it has become crucial for the agency to embark on a significant sensitisation campaign to regulate substandard products in Nigeria.

According to her, the awareness campaign is important to promote and protect the health of citizens.

The NAFDAC boss earlier disclosed that significant sensitisation campaigns were scheduled to hold in eight states of the federation, adding that the first phase of the sensitisation campaigns will be held in selected states across the country from August to September 2021.

Adeyeye noted that the sensitisation campaigns are being organised in phases as the agency intends to cover all 36 states of the federation within available resources.

She also mentioned that a well-informed, sensitised, and educated citizenry is the bedrock of effective regulation.

According to her, citizens need to be informed about the deleterious effects of unwholesome food, falsified medical products, harmful cosmetics, poor water, and other substandard products.

The post NASS Appeals To Resident Doctors To Suspend Strike appeared first on Daily Dates Nigeria.