The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says he personally travelled to Niger Republic to beg the
country to allow the Nigerian government to construct the $1.95bn railway from Kano State into Maradi in
Niger Republic.
Amaechi said this on Channels Television’s ‘News Night’ programme on Monday which was monitored by our
correspondent.
The railway is expected to run from Kano to Dutse- Katsina through Jibia and will end at Maradi Niger
Republic.
The minister said some had even accused him of serving northern interests even though his wife is Igbo.
Amaechi said, “It is like the shout about Kano-Maradi rail. I said my wife is Igbo. She is not from Maradi.
The worst is that they will say I am serving the interest of the North. Let’s assume that is the argument you
will make. The worst I can do is stop at Jibia which is the border.
“To even get to Maradi I had to travel to Niger Republic to even beg them. They are not bringing their money.
It is our money. But I’m begging them to allow me access into Maradi.”
When asked why it was so important to extend the rail to Maradi, Amaechi explained that Niger Republic is a
landlocked country and has to rely on entrepot trade which means it has to export and import through
intermediary countries.
The minister said due to insecurity and poor road infrastructure as well as extortion by security agents, Niger
Republic and Chad preferred exporting and importing their goods through Benin Republic, Ivory Coast, Ghana and
Togo.He argued that the new rail would help Nigeria to compete and this would expand the economy.
Amaechi added, “Why are they not exporting through Nigeria? They say o, your roads are bad. So, the railway
takes care of that. They say customs is difficult, customs will impose charges that are not charged in Benin
Republic.
“They say immigration does not allow them. Even when they pass all these, there are police checkpoints on
the road, customs checkpoints on the road, immigration checkpoints on the road. Then communities have their
own checkpoints on the road, armed robbers attack them on the road. So, they prefer to go where it is safe and
cheaper to do business.
“So, all we are saying is we come to Maradi, we build offices, we build a warehouse, you put your things in
the warehouse, you deal with customs at Maradi, deal with immigration at Maradi, deal with police, whatever
you need to check. Once you put the goods on top of the wagon, it goes straight to Lagos. When it gets to
Lagos, straight to the ship because the things you would do in Lagos, you would have done in Maradi.”
The minister also berated the National Assembly for obstructing the facilitation of Chinese loans due to the
controversial sovereignty clause.
In July 2020, a House of Representatives panel had raised the alarm over clauses conceding Nigeria’s
sovereignty to China in a loan agreement.
Amaechi, however, argued that the unnecessary probe had stalled funding for the Ibadan to Kano rail.
https://punchng.com/i-begged-niger-republic-to-let-nigeria-construct-free-railway-for-them-amaechi/

if I slap his head

Banbiala government

Ok.