Nigerian Government To Construct Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail Line – Amaechi

January 29, 2020

By Victor Azubuike

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said efforts are underway to construct the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line.

Amaechi spoke during the Deloitte in dialogue: Nigeria Economic Outlook 2020, held at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Tuesday, on the topic, “Railway Infrastructure: Progress and Plan.”

He said the total reconstruction of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line will include new designs that will have an industrial park.



Amaechi who is a former Rivers State Governor also said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the construction of two new seaports in the Niger-Delta; one in Bonny, Rivers State and the other in Warri, Delta State.

He said, “We will provide railway for Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. The President has assured me. We are discussing and announcement would be made on the project soon.''

“The President has also approved the construction of two new seaports. One in Bonny and another in Warri. The first deep seaport we’ll have in Nigeria is already being built in Lekki. There’s one being proposed by the Akwa Ibom State government. I think they call it Ibom Seaport. I’ve told them to bring it and I’ll give them all the backing they need.

“I tell people that this government is by far more business-friendly. We would leave as much infrastructure for Nigeria.

“Nigerians are mostly particular about human transportation, how they can commute from Lagos to Ibadan daily, but the most important is actually for moving cargo to enhance productivity. Lagos to Kano rail is capable of moving 30 million tons of Cargo from Lagos to Kano, while Port Harcourt to Maiduguri can take 11 million tons of cargo.

Train Station on the Abuja - Kaduna line


“We would also look at the policy to ensure that after building the railways, there are certain cargoes that will not be allowed on the roads, to encourage movement of cargo on the rail lines and to ensure that our roads last longer… Moving cargo across the country through rail would be cheaper and faster than the roads.

Amaechi added that the just-completed 350 kilometre Warri-Itakpe rail line which was the first standard gauge rail line in Nigeria “was started about 34 years ago, abandoned, and now we have completed it, built stations, 1000 housing units for staff, workshops, all ready.”

For maritime security, Amaechi said, “We are trying to put in place, 3 helicopters, 2 airplanes, 4 to 6 drones, 24 hours, we will be in the air, watching Nigerian waters from Lagos to Calabar, training soldiers, because this time we said not just the Navy, we want soldiers to come in, we want SSS, police, we want Airforce to come in; so for 24 hours, from my office, I can see Nigerian waters from beginning to the end.”

salykely:
Good development. I hope it isn't audio

Susu888:
By the time Buhari is done with his second term Nigerians will be begging him to run for another term!

Its not by making noise in the media about fictional projects he is actually walking the talkk*

A salute to ameachi as well, the man is doing very well. We will get there by God's grace.

Next Level

Susu888:
By the time Buhari is done with his second term Nigerians will be begging him to run for another term!

Its not by making noise in the media about fictional projects he is actually walking the talkk*

A salute to ameachi as well, the man is doing very well. We will get there by God's grace.

Next Level

rdokoye:


Yea, the South-East will, because he's been implementing so many projects in the East, in an attempt to erase the Western monopoly. Ironically, he's done more for the South-East, than any other president in the past 20 years.

Susu888:


Make dem no come for your head O they hate the man with passion.

Rosskiye:


Don't go by this stuff you read on internet forums. Most Nigerians don't hate Buhari, wherever they come from.

Rosskiye:


You people have come again with this your audio nonsense. I keep telling you people, Buhari does not do Audio.

Buhari's second name is Mr Integrity.

If Buhari tells you the sky is purple, you don't need to look up to confirm.

I actually see him as the new Paul Kagame.

Susu888:
By the time Buhari is done with his second term Nigerians will be begging him to run for another term!

Its not by making noise in the media about fictional projects he is actually walking the talkk*

A salute to ameachi as well, the man is doing very well. We will get there by God's grace.

Next Level

Rosskiye:
In an earlier development, ''the minister also stated that the Federal Government would continue its negotiations with Russia for the commencement of the Lagos-Calabar rail line project.

Amaechi was quoted in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in Abuja on Thursday.

He said, “The six geo-political zones are all covered. Port Harcourt-Maiduguri line covers Port Harcourt, Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Enugu, Abakaliki, Awka, Markurdi, Lafia, Akwanga, Jos, Bauchi, Gombe and connects to Yobe, Damaturu and then Maiduguri.

“The Lagos-Calabar line is for the whole of the South-South. We have Lagos coming through Akure, Benin and then from Benin we have a spot leading to Agbor and Asaba and to Onitsha.

“It then continues to Ughelii, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba, Uyo and Calabar. That takes care of the South-South, while Port Harcourt-Maiduguri takes care of the South-East and the North-East.”''

https://punchng.com/fg-begins-negotiation-for-pharcourt-maiduguri-rail-project/

Susu888:
By the time Buhari is done with his second term Nigerians will be begging him to run for another term!

Its not by making noise in the media about fictional projects he is actually walking the talkk*

A salute to ameachi as well, the man is doing very well. We will get there by God's grace.

Next Level

mascot87:
I guess to be able to import boko boys easily and very fast too