My resilience after playing out of Senate power game, facilitated rail project – Sen. Akanbi

RAIL service system between Lagos and Ibadan was recently flagged off by Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. But the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the Senate, Adesoji Akanbi has said the project was made possible by him after raising concern to include the omitted project in 2017 appropriation budget.

Senator Akanbi in an exclusive interview with Mega Icon Magazine on Monday, however lamented how he was played out of senate power game for not supporting the choice of Senate President, Olubukola Saraki but supported the choice of President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Ahmed Lawan during the inauguration of the 8th Assembly Senate leadership.

According to him, this is why he was not subsequently given any committee chairmanship despite the fact that he is the most ranked senator from Oyo State owing to position he had held in the National Assembly in the past as well as representing the most populated senatorial district in Nigeria.

The lawmaker, however said despite playing him out of power game in the Senate, it was through his resilience that he was able to lobby and facilitated a giant project which has multiplying effects on the nation’s economy despite not being a member of committee on transportation.

He said: “my playing out of Senate power game is rather a blessing for me because despite the fact that I’m not a member of committee on transportation, I was able to lobby and facilitated the construction of Lagos-Ibadan rail project which will soon be ready for commuters’ use. I also fought for people whose properties were demolished and lands  taken to construct the rail road to get compensated. By  the time the  project is completed, it will improve transport links with Lagos, the national economic nerve centre and major port to other state capital across the country”.

Akanbi noted further that Lagos, as waterway for exportation and importation of goods will have links to other states and regions especially rural areas to convey farm produce for exportation and therefore boost country’s GDP and reduces wastages of agricultural produce. He said therefore, it will reduce road accidents and improves economic lives of farmers in rural areas and facilitate smooth agricultural value chain as it will provide ready made market to sell the farm produce.

Senator Akanbi added that this project has facilitated the approval of Ibadan-Kaduna rail project saying this will enhance an active and vibrant railway system which will create up to half a million jobs and facilitate the movement of up to 3.2 million tonnes of cargo per annum.

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