Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of Transportation, has said that
President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval for six new railway
projects.
The projects include:
1. The Kano-Katsina-Jibiya to Maradi in Niger Republic
2. The new standard gauge rail from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri
passing through Enugu, Lafia, Makurdi, Gombe, with branches to Owerri,
Onitsha, Awka, Abakaliki, Yola, Jalingo and Damaturu.
3. The Itapke-Aladja (Warri) to Abuja and Warri Port
4. Th development of Railway Industrial Park in Port Harcourt and
5. The proposal for railway connection to Bonny Island Deep Sea port from Port Harcourt.
“We sought and got Mr. President’s approval to source for
financiers for various rail projects for development. Negotiations are
ongoing and we may need to make some contributions depending on the
negotiations,” he said.
Amaechi said so far, encouraging progress has been made in sourcing financiers for the prioritized projects
“as we have received expression of interest with potential and
indicative financial models and business plan for their development.”
Additionally, the minister stated that the ministry is concluding
feasibility studies started in 2013 for other new lines including;
1. Illela-Sokoto-Yelwa-Makera-Kontagora-Minna
2. Illorin-Okoyi-Batigi-Baro to link Itakpe-Abuja line, among others
3. Kano-Dayi-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger.
Others are;
1. Port Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Lafia-Kuru-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri
2. Calabar-Ikom-Obudu-Ogoja-Wukari-Yola-Maiduguri
3. Aba-Ikot Ekpene- Ibiano- Itu-Uyo-Odukpani-Calabar.
The minister explained that all the projects will be included in
the 2018 appropriation in order to reach the goals of the Buhari
administration in the development of our railways.
He disclosed that the government intends to use the 2018 budget to
complete the ongoing Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri-Aladja railway project, which
commenced 32 years ago.
According to him, counterpart funding will be required as Federal
Government’s contribution for the financing of the Ibadan-Kano project
and the Nigerian coastal line Lagos-Calabar project would commence this
year.
On the 2017 budget, the minister informed that while a total
capital provision of N152.527 billion was made for land transport, only
N64.781 billion was released. He said the total of N20.310 billion has
been expended as at January 2018.