₦airaland Forum

Senator Victor Umeh has expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate leadership for including the reconstruction of the Eastern rail line in the newly approved $21 billion foreign loan request.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Umeh recalled how he passionately raised the issue of excluding the Eastern corridor—running from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri—during the 2025 budget discussions.

He commended Senate President Godswill Akpabio for giving him the opportunity to voice the concerns of the Southeast and for promising to escalate the matter to the President.

“I was thrilled to see that $3 billion has now been allocated to the Eastern rail line. This inclusion in the foreign loan request is a fulfilment of a long-standing demand by people of the Southeast and other regions along the corridor,” Umeh said.

The lawmaker recalled President Tinubu’s earlier promise during a January visit to the Southeast, where regional stakeholders raised similar concerns. “With this move, the federal government has shown that it listens and acts. This is a significant step toward equitable development,” Umeh added.

Senate President Akpabio responded warmly, applauding Umeh’s bipartisan support and reiterating that good governance knows no party lines. “This is the Nigeria we all want—where national interest comes first,” Akpabio said.

The Senate on Tuesday approved President Tinubu’s $21 billion loan request, which included allocations for major infrastructure projects nationwide. The Eastern rail line, which has long been neglected, is set to benefit substantially from the financing.

The development has been hailed as a win for inclusivity, national integration, and infrastructure equity, particularly for the Southeast and Northeastern regions that rely heavily on the corridor for economic activity.

https://guardian.ng/news/umeh-praises-tinubu-for-including-eastern-rail-line-in-21b-loan-plan/

Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has applauded President Bola Tinubu for allocating $3 billion for the completion of the Eastern Rail line, describing it as vital to South East development.

According to Kalu, the project which is a component of the external loans approved by the National Assembly, is a vital component of the government’s efforts to drive economic development, regional connectivity, and improve the lives of people from the South East and Nigeria generally.

While commending the President, the Deputy Speaker in a statement on Thursday, he disclosed that the rail line is projected to unlock about ₦50 billion in annual trade, linking Aba and Onitsha hubs to the markets in the northern region.
According to him, the President has, through this gesture, underscored the action-oriented nature of his Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrating a clear commitment to unlocking the economic potential of the South East.

Kalu assured the President that Ndi Igbo will reciprocate his goodwill at the appropriate time to reflect the region’s deep appreciation for his efforts to foster growth and prosperity in the South East.

“I commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to the development of the South East region. He has again demonstrated his love for the people of the South East region by this bold step of completing the Eastern rail line which is expected to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and economic growth once completed”, he said.

“We can’t but show our immense gratitude to the President for this initiative to upscale the infrastructure in the South East. Indeed, the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President is not in words but in action especially for Ndigbo and at the right time, we will reciprocate this kind gestures. We are so grateful, Mr. President”, he added.

Nbotee:
If this project is done as budgeted for, it will be a legacy project of more significance than the coastal project as rail transportation would help decongestant the pressure on roads

Softmirror:
It will be done I can assure you. Tinubu is President 'TALK and DO'.

Nbotee:
If this project is done as budgeted for, it will be a legacy project of more significance than the coastal project as rail transportation would help decongestant the pressure on roads

odeebee:
Dangote built a world class refinery for $20B. The same amount a government wants to borrow for just railway in the East alone. Nobody lasts forever in the life.

kingsways:
Whatever happens they must discontinue the archaic and antiquated narrow gauge one useless former Minister for Transport planned to do from Port Harcourt


It must be a modern and standard gauge , this is 21st century

Tjra:
You see why school no be scam?

The project is just one out of many.

It's always good to read before typing.

"The Senate on Tuesday approved President Tinubu’s $21 billion loan request, which included allocations for major infrastructure projects nationwide. The Eastern rail line, which has long been neglected, is set to benefit substantially from the financing."

odeebee:
Dangote built a world class refinery for $20B. The same amount a government wants to borrow for just railway in the East alone. Nobody lasts forever in the life.

Nbotee:
If this project is done as budgeted for, it will be a legacy project of more significance than the coastal project as rail transportation would help decongestant the pressure on roads

phransix2:
why don't they tackle insecurity and hunger in the land first? Cos if these issues are not solved they are threat to the infrastructure.

And again most of these monies are to be used for campaigns and re-election bid. I don't even trust them

odeebee:
Dangote built a world class refinery for $20B. The same amount a government wants to borrow for just railway in the East alone. Nobody lasts forever in the life.

LCling:
Eastern what? Did this one read the project at all?

Port Harcourt - Maiduguri ( how much) but later it's pH is termed south south

The only east project there is (Morden some equipment in east port, which can be buying

sulaak:
Although I don't like the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway because it is unnecessary in Nigeria's current economic climate, if the project is completed, it will open up the two most dynamic regions in Nigeria. The SS and SW.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway also has a plan for a railway in the middle of the highway.

phransix2:
why don't they tackle insecurity and hunger in the land first? Cos if these issues are not solved they are threat to the infrastructure.

And again most of these monies are to be used for campaigns and re-election bid. I don't even trust them

CaptainFM1:
Forget it. This and the so called Legacy coastal project are conduit pipe for embezzlement.

Pakute:
https://businessday.ng/news/article/tinubu-unlocking-prosperity-of-seast-with-3bn-allocation-for-eastern-rail-line-deputy-speaker/?amp