The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving urban mobility and strengthening transportation infrastructure at the Beijing and Suzhou, China’s Seminar on railway production, operations and maintenance.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Saturday Uwuilekhue Idehen JP, gave the assurance during a 22-day seminar on railway production, operations and maintenance in China, where he led the Nigeria delegation.
In his keynote address on behalf of the Nigerian delegation at the opening ceremony of the seminar, the Commissioner underscored the strategic importance of rail transportation to economic growth, industrial development and the efficient movement of people and goods. He noted that rail transportation provides a reliable and cost-effective means of moving large numbers of passengers and heavy freight over long distances, while helping to reduce pressure on road infrastructure.
According to him, countries seeking sustainable economic development must pay close attention to the efficiency of their transportation systems, as effective transport infrastructure is critical to industrialisation, trade, investment and connectivity. He stressed the importance of proper railway maintenance, noting that regular inspection, timely repairs and continuous upgrading of tracks, trains, signaling systems and other railway infrastructure were essential to ensuring safety, reliability and efficient operations.
The Commissioner described the seminar as strategic and timely, noting that the knowledge and technical exposure gained from the programme would contribute to strengthening the capacity required to effectively operate and maintain modern railway systems in Nigeria. He expressed optimism about the knowledge-sharing and collaboration with Chinese railway experts and counterparts, saying the experience would provide valuable insights into modern railway production, operations and maintenance.
Hon. Idehen added that the exposure would contribute to broader efforts to improve transportation systems, strengthen technical capacity and support sustainable economic development. He reaffirmed his commitment to initiatives that promote technical capacity, innovation and the development of efficient transportation infrastructure, in line with the development priorities of the Federal and the Edo State governments.
He submitted that the experience aligned with the Sen. Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda’s commitment to improving infrastructure, strengthening urban mobility and creating an enabling environment for economic growth and development in Edo State.
