The Nigerian Senate has summoned minister of
transport, Rotimi Amaechi, to explain why the
eastern section of the country’s rail lines was
excluded from the proposed loan from the China
Exim bank.
In April this year, President Muhammadu Buhari had
in a letter to the National Assembly, asked for
approval to borrow $5.851 billion for the upgrade
of various sections of the country’s railway.

The resolution of the Senate on Tuesday, May 16,
was a follow up to a motion sponsored by the
senator representing Anambra south, Enyinnaya
Abaribe, The Cable reports.
Senator Abaribe had noted that the required loan
only covers the rehabilitation of a section of the
country’s rail lines and that the eastern section of
the country’s rail lines was omitted from the
proposed loan.
“The eastern section of the rail segment, which has
a link between the south-east to the north-eastern
parts of the rail line is completely excluded from
the request, ” the legislator said.
“The loan being a federal government borrowing
would be paid for by all sections of the country,
therefore every section of the country should be
taken into consideration.
“There is a railway master plan developed by the
ministry of transport and of which such plans has
not been referred to in the current borrowing plan.”
The senator stated that for the railway projects to
have meaningful impact on the development of the
country, it should be made to cover all parts.

Ike Ekweremadu describes the omission of eastern
section of the country’s rail lines from the
proposed government rehabilitation plan as
discriminatory.
Abaribe said the exclusion of the eastern section
that links the south-south, south-east, north-
central and north-east to key cities such as Port
Harcourt, Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Lafia, Gudi, Jos,
Bauchi and Maiduguri is inexplicable.
Contributing to the debate, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy
senate president, described the omission as
discriminatory.

“This is discrimination and should not be allowed to
continue in this dispensation,” he said.
Speaking on the issue, Senate president Bukola
Saraki said the leadership was already looking into
the matter, adding that it is important for every part
of the country to have standard gauge lines.
The senate adopted the motion after it was put to a
voice vote by Saraki.
Amaechi is expected to appear before the senate
committee on transport.

Hmm

Ok

source

If my memory serves me right, this is an old report.

I can't quite remember his response but it was a rubbish one

And the stupid minister is from rivers state...