The Federal Government has recorded tremendous progress in rail and water transportation in the last 28 months,
President Bola Tinubu said the development underscores sustained investments in rail lines, inland waterways, and supporting infrastructure.
Tinubu said this in his goodwill message to Nigerians as the nation marks its 65th Independence Anniversary.
Tinubu noted that the achievement reflected progress in diversifying Nigeria’s transport system beyond reliance on road networks to water and rails.
“This administration is expanding transport infrastructure across the country, covering rail, roads, airports, and seaports.
“Rail and water transport grew by over 40 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.
“The 284-kilometre Kano-Kastina-Maradi Standard Gauge rail project and the Kaduna-Kano rail line are nearing completion. Work is progressing well on the legacy Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-BadagryHighway.
“The Federal Executive Council recently approved three billion dollars to complete the Eastern Rail Project,” he said.
Tinubu said that his administration was working to build, repair and construct infrastructure that would uplift the country and sustain the growth and development of future generations.
He said that due to failures of past administration to make necessary investments, the country suffered deteriorated roads, seaports, railroads, and international airports comparable to the best in the world.
Tinubu, however, said that his administration was setting things right and had turned corners for significant improvement and development.
According to him, the worse is over, I say yesterday’s pains are giving way to relief.
The president underscored twelve remarkable economic milestones achieved as a result of the implementation of sound fiscal and monetary policies.
He highlighted the nations fast recovering economy giving credit to reforms made within two years of his leadership which were now delivering tangible results.
“The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.23 per cent, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Inflation declined to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years.
“We have attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, achieving the 2025 target by August with more than N20 trillion.
—–Urges Nigerians to patronise Made in Nigeria goods——
The President also reiterated the need for Nigerians to patronise made in Nigeria products.
According to him, we should be a nation of producers, not just consumers.
He said: “On this 65th Anniversary of our independence, my message is hope and a call to action.
“The Federal Government will continue to do its part to fix the plumbing in our economy. Now, we must all turn on the taps of productivity, innovation, and enterprise.
“I urge the sub-national entities to join us in nation-building. Let us be a nation of producers, not just consumers. Let us farm our lands and build factories to process our produce.
“Let us patronise ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ goods. I say Nigeria first. Let us pay our taxes,” he said.
Tinibu said that the administration has attained a record-breaking increase in non-oil revenue, thereby, achieving the 2025 target by August with more than N20 trillion.
He said that in September alone, the non oil revenue raised was N3.65 trillion, adding that it was 411 per cent higher than the amount raised in May 2023.
The president said that Nigeria has recorded a trade surplus for five consecutive quarters.
“We are now selling more to the world than we are buying, a fundamental shift that strengthens our currency and creates jobs at home.
“Nigeria’s trade surplus increased by 44.3 per cent in second quarter 2025 to N7.46 trillion (4.74 billion dollars), the largest in about three years,” he said.
Tinubu noted that goods manufactured in Nigeria and exported increased by 173 per cent.
“Non-oil exports, as a component of our export trade, now represents 48 per cent, compared to oil exports, which account for 52 per cent.
“This signals that we are diversifying our economy and foreign exchange sources outside oil and gas,” he said.
The Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said that Made in Nigeria products was a pathway to economic growth, job creation and national development.
According to her, it is important to buy what we produce and produce what we consume, I, therefore, urge Nigerians to embrace Made in Nigeria Products.
Also, Dr Nonye Ayeni, the Director-General, Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), reiterated the council’s commitment to building the capacity of exporters from the farm gate to market access.
