Although passenger services commenced immediately, the freight service didn’t commence at the time.
The line pipes belong to the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas project being promoted by the Nigerian Gas Company Ltd.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, said the “laudable achievement will definitely boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and equally enhance the socio-economic development of the communities living along the route.
“The project is for the benefit of these communities and Nigeria generally, irrespective of political affiliation.”
On the Itapke-Warri rail operations, he said, “exports available suggests that patronage on this route has increased by over 200% in the last few months and is becoming a preferred means of transportation for communities along this route in Delta, Edo and Kogi States” he said.