President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday directed that the newly commissioned Itakpe-Warri railway be extended to link with Abuja, creating a direct line between the north and the south.
The President said this should be achieved before the end of his tenure as President in May 2023.
He gave the directive while virtually commissioning the 276km Itakpe-Warri Railway and ancillary facility yard from the Conference Hall of the State House in Abuja.
The president has also directed that the railway stations be renamed after Nigerians who have contributed immensely to nation-building.
President Buhari commended all who in the 33 years of its creation made the project a success, urging host communities for the rail line to maximise the potential the rail line avails them.
The Federal Ministry of Transportation tweeted on Monday that President Buhari will inaugurate the Itakpe-Warri railway ancillary facility yard virtually.
The Itakpe-Warri railway line is a 276 kilometres railway line that links Warri in Delta State to Ajaokuta, in Kogi State.
The rail service has 12 stations with two located between Itakpe, Ajaokuta and Warri. They include Itakpe; Eganiy; Adobe; Itogbo; Agenebode; Uromi; Egehen; Igbanke; Agbor; Abraka; Okpara and Ujewu.