A standard gauge rail line stretching from Parakou in Benin Republic will terminate in Ilorin, central Nigeria, upon completion, as part of a budding infrastructure rebirth aimed at unlocking potential investment opportunities in the West African sub-region.
The project was disclosed at Africa’s premier infrastructure summit which kicked off in Abuja last Monday.
The event, organised by Africa Finance Corporation brings together some of the frontline experts in infrastructure investments who would offer suggestions on how to approach the continent’s infrastructure demands.
The cross-border rail project is part of a series of investment arrangements put in place by Petrolin’s Backbone Project – which includes a rail line to be built on existing networks linking Cotonou (Benin) to Parakou (Benin), to Dosso (Niger) and to Niamey (Niger) for a total 1,032 kilometres.
The project also includes a new dry port, a new deep-water port, a dry port and a new international airport being planned around Cotonou-Parakou axis in Benin Republic, Petrolin said. The project will unlock opportunities in other critical infrastructure endeavours such as schools, universities, health centres, and tourism areas.
“The core of our business strategy is to use our international strength to bring on board first class international companies and, more importantly, to involve local indigenous partners and investors to associate them to the development of the sub-region,” Samuel Dossou-Aworet, Chairman of Petrolin Group, said on the opening day of the event.
