...........Vanguard learned that although the N60 billion meant for the Calabar-Lagos rail budget was not in the original budget, the Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, successfully defended and got it included in the amended budget.
.......For instance, Senator John Enoh and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmunin Jibrin, disagreed over the inclusion of the rail project in the budget.

While Enoh said it was included and wondered who removed it, Jibrin said the Lagos-Calabar rail project was never included.
.......Rep Oghene Egoh, PDP, Lagos, said the removal of the the Lagos-Calabar rail line was wicked and uncharitable if it is true because “we provided for both Kano and Lagos rail lines in the budget but I’m shocked that Lagos that is the business hub in Nigeria was removed. To me, we must probe deep into why it was removed because it connects all the oil producing states in Nigeria”.

...........“The two arms of government are trying to resolve all issues raised by the Executive amicably before the President returns from China.

“Certainly, the discussion so far on Sunday has been cordial. The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who travelled abroad has decided to cut short his trip in order to join the harmonisation talks.”

Responding to a question, the source said: “One of the issues which generated debate at the session was the lawmakers’ anger about the expunging of the Calabar – Lagos rail line from the budget details.

“The lawmakers said the project was not part of the Appropriation Bill submitted by the President. They said they were shocked that the government could be scandalising them in the press.

“But the government delegation insisted that it was part of the amendments submitted to the National Assembly after the padding was detected.”