The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari over his efforts to restore peace in the Niger Delta and for his determination to actualise the multi-billion-dollar Lagos-Calabar coastal rail-line project.

The party in a statement issued on Thursday in Port Harcourt noted that President Buhari did not only approve dialogue with Niger Delta militants but also recently met with stakeholders from the region in a bid to deepen his peace initiate. It also expressed joy over the recent formal signing of the contract for the execution of the $11.97 billion coastal rail-line project.

“With these laudable steps, President Buhari has demonstrated his sincere and genuine concern and interest for the peace, emancipation and development of the Niger Delta region. Just as he did in the case of the Ogoni clean-up exercise, President Buhari by these two epochal acts has once more vindicated our earlier declaration that he is a true son of the Niger Delta region. We are reassured that the President will keep his promise to rebuild our region and we wish to appeal to our youths to toe the line of peace and allow the President to develop our region,” Rivers APC said in the statement signed by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya.

The party also commended the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, for once again demonstrating his sagacity and prudence by saving a whopping sum of N134.4 billion (Using N168 to $1 as it was in 2014 when the contract was first signed) for the nation by negotiating downwards the planned 1,402km coastal rail-line project. “Rt. Hon. Amaechi has by this singular act demonstrated to the entire world that he utilised the resources of Rivers State prudently and wisely during his tenure as the Governor of Rivers State,” Rivers APC said.

It commended President Buhari for his assurance that funds will not stall or delay the completion of the project. “We therefore urge the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to move to site and commence work as a matter of urgency so that this dream that will improve both transportation and economic activities within this region could be quickly brought to life,” the statement said

•Photo shows President Buhari.

Update news