Nigerian Engineers have reiterated their firm belief that opening up of the Sahara will bring about the smooth intercontinental trade within the sub-region.

President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Mustafa Balarabe Shehu, stated this on the occasion of the inauguration of the Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE Taming African Deserts (NSE-TAD) Governing Council /Boards in Abuja yesterday.

He said movement of goods and services across the continent will be enhanced and this will obviously create the multiplier effect of employment opportunities, education, industrial growth, reduction in cross-border migration, recovery of encroached lands for agriculture and grazing purposes for millions of Africans that border the Sahara.

Engr. Shehu said among the terms of reference of the council is to sustain and actualize the primary vision of FADE Africa using NSE-TAD as the special purpose vehicle and conceptualise the overall framework and configuration of projects necessary for connecting all regions of Africa including measures of sustainable afforestation of desert areas. In his remarks at the event, General T Y Danjuma (rtd), said the Sahara superhighway will open and landlocked countries such as Niger, Mali and Chad and boost trade and cultural exchange between countries in addition to the potential to create millions of jobs direct and indirectly for the teeming restive unemployed youths across the continent.