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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Fg To Spend #120billion On Lagos-calabar-kano Rail Way Construction (522 Views)
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Fg To Spend #120billion On Lagos-calabar-kano Rail Way Construction by Andema(m): 2:04pm On Feb 19, 2016 |
he Minister of Transportion, Rotimi Amaechi,
on Thursday said the federal government would
spend an aggregate of N120 billion for its two
new standard (guage) railway tracks to be
constructed on the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-
Calabar rail corridors from its 2016 budget.
Making the disclosure after a train ride on the
completed 186-kilometre Abuja-Kaduna railway
project, from Idu terminus at the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Amaechi said the N60 billion
apiece on both corridors will be for new
standard gauge, adding that the narrow gauge
on those corridors are already functioning.
He said: “We have N120 billion on the 2016
projects. As you are aware of the dire financial
situation, and putting into cognizance that
President Muhammadu Buhari has taken all the
rail projects as priority, out of this, N60 billion is
for the Lagos-Kano standard gauge as the
narrow gauge is working already.”
According to him, government is spending N60
billion apiece as part of its counterpart
contributions, while the Chinese Exim bank will
offset the balance payment for the project as
part of their obligation. He added that the two
fresh projects are however not contractual.
Amaechi said: “In fact, when I was at the
National Assembly, they wanted to know if the
new projects were on contract terms, I told
them no.”
He said the federal government was currently
implementing the projects that it met on the
ground.
“We didn’t intend to cancel or bring in our own
ideas to what we met in the office. The Lagos-
Kano narrow gauge that was awarded by former
President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and the
Lagos-Calabar by President Goodluck Jonathan
are still very good, so we had no option than to
fly with them,” he said.
While expressing delight at the completion of
the Abuja-Kaduna railway which was
constructed by the China Civil Engineering
Construction Corporation (CCECC), with over
$1billion, the minister said: “The essence of
taking this tour is to assess whether we are
ready for commercial activities.
“By March this year, we would test run the rail
services and it should be free for those who
will run on it between March and April. By May,
we expect that President Buhari, will commence
the commercial activities on this rail. And by
that way, those who want to go to Kaduna by
rail can actual use our rail services route.
“That will be the activity on this rail for this
year. This rail is design to start from here (Idu)
to Kaduna. But since some areas are not ready,
we will continue to pick passengers from here
(Idu), until they are ready then we would
disengage the temporary facilities.”
However, Amaechi said government would give
N362 million as compensation to the owners of
a Catholic hospital along the Kubwa which has
been a clog to effective movement of the rail
because of its proximity to the rail track.
The minister added: “The Abuja-Kaduna rail is
100 percent complete and that is why we said
we are ready to roll out railway operations. I
have to make sure that both the government
and Daughters of Charity Catholic hospital are
amicably settled.
“We have agreed to pay them N362 million for
that plot of land. The only difference that
happened today (yesterday) was that we have
asked CCECC to do Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) with a 200KVA generator
while the N362 million will be used to get
another building because of the patients at the
hospital.
“We have also just asked CCECC to make
provision for lift in all the platforms so that the
disabled can access the trains and coaches.
The coaches are coming at the end of this
month.”
On the need to train Nigerians on railway
technology, he said: “I have told CCECC that if
they have to build the Lagos-Calabar standard
gauge, they have to build a Railway University
where Nigerians will be trained so that the
Chinese technology is not just dumped on us.
“The Chinese must have to transfer their
technology, expertise and skills to us, and that
is why they must build the university for the
country on the Lagos-Calabar corridor. This is
part of the amendment that we are making on
facilities that have to be included, which will
manufacture coaches and wagons in the
country like they do in South Africa.”
“The total value of the 186 km between Abuja-
Kaduna is over $1billion, it was initially over
$800 million, our cultural background affects
construction in Nigeria, and because of some
form of human activities and animals crossing
on the track, there will be fencing from Abuja to
Kaduna which cost about $100 million and other
extra works which brought it to over $1 billi |
Re: Fg To Spend #120billion On Lagos-calabar-kano Rail Way Construction by Amein(m): 3:05pm On Feb 19, 2016 |
SAI BABA |
Re: Fg To Spend #120billion On Lagos-calabar-kano Rail Way Construction by 9jatriot(m): 9:21am On Apr 11, 2016 |
The internet remembers. Those saying FG did not want to do it can hide in shame. You can imagine the extent these senators can go just to ridicule the government, they are ready to undermine their people. The North keep protecting their region yet the SS that produces the crude oil cannot even fight for her people. Lets even assume that it was not in the budget, could they not have taken Amechi up on that by asking him why that of Kano is on it and Calabar is not on it. Senators especially those from the south south cannot defend themselves on this 1 Like 1 Share |
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