Senate Grills Buhari's Minister Over Kano-Niger Republic Rail Project
- The Nigerian senate has faulted Rotimi Amaechi’s proposal to construct a proper rail line from Kano to Maradi and other parts of the country
- Amaechi came under fire with the Senators when he appeared before the panel to defend the Ministry of Transportation’s budget
- The lawmakers who are unsatisfied with his proposal maintained the proposed projects were not in favour of other regions in the country
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Abuja- Federal lawmakers have queried the minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi as being discriminatory against some regions in the country regarding the execution of rail projects.
Premium Times reports that members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Land and Marine Transport have questioned the federal government’s plan to construct a standard gauge rail line from Kano-Maradi, Niger Republic, while it plans to construct narrow rail lines for other rail projects in South-east, South-south and North-east.
The panel reacted angrily with Amaechi when he appeared for the ministry’s budget defence on Thursday, November 4.
Source: Facebook
While presenting the budget, Amaechi said:
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“The construction of Kaduna-Kano railways to link up the Abuja-Kaduna rail line has commenced. Survey and design for Ibadan-Minna-Abuja is ongoing.
“Construction of the 284 kilometres Nigeria-Maradi (Niger Republic) standard gauge rail line enabling interconnectivity with countries in the West Africa sub region for the promotion of trade and commerce.
“This important contribution by Nigeria would be mutually beneficial by adding to the economic growth of the two countries, Niger and Nigeria.”
Legit.ng gathered that the federal government had planned a narrow gauge for the proposed eastern rail corridor - to begin from Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Maiduguri, Borno state.
The Gauge Rail
Mr Amaechi had explained that the standard and narrow gauge rail have the same load capacity. The only difference, he said, is speed – which is about 20 kilometres.
But the lawmakers, unsatisfied with his submission, said the plan was discriminatory against other parts of Nigeria.
The Punch reported also that the Chairman of Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, and House Committee Chairman, Mr Pat Asadu, kicked against the marginalisation of other regions of the country in the rail line construction.
Both Chairmen queried the minister why he was not constructing uniform rail lines across the country.
Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Pat Asadu, made the first observation.
Mr Asadu said:
“We are now looking at the difference between ‘Project D’ which is the construction of 284 kilometres Nigeria-Maradi railway standard world class line against ‘Project C’ where you talked about the total rehabilitation and reconstruction of Port Harcourt to Maiduguri eastern rail network defined as narrow gauge.
“For a segment of this country that is known for trade and commerce, they need railway as they need air. If the ministry feels that doing a 287 kilometres of railway track from Kano to Maradi will be funded with borrowed money…to be paid by our children…
“I also know the economy of Niger Republic and I believe the economy of the Southeast is bigger than that of Maradi. I am not even talking of South-South.
“So what policy guide, what study of federal character integration would make the Ministry of Transportation to put 284 kilometres railway from the end of the north to Maradi and then constructing a Narrow Gauge in the South East and South South…?”
The lawmaker said this decision is why Nigeria’s integration will always be challenged because things are done with so much impunity.
Buhari lists 5 major areas Nigeria’s loans will be focused on
Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed the major areas the loans acquired by his administration have been and will continue to be focused on.
The president made the revelation on Thursday, October 7, when he submitted the 2022 Appropriation Bill before the Joint Session of the National Assembly in Abuja.
His speech during the presentation was shared on Facebook by one of his spokesmen, Femi Adesina.
Ibeleme to Igbos: Support Amaechi to attract projects to southeast
In a related report, Igbos in Nigeria have been asked to support the minister of transportation, Chibuike Amaechi to enable him to succeed in his determination to effectively attract federal projects to the southeast, especially in the rail sector.
An aide to the minister, Dr Israel Ibeleme, made the call in a statement sent to Legit.ng on Monday, October 12.
He stated that the minister was on the right track in making sure rail projects in eastern Nigeria are completed and ready for use.
Source: Legit.ng
