Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway To Be Reconstructed In 2021 – Transportation Minister

The rehabilitation and reconstruction of (Eastern narrow gauge railway) Port Harcourt–Maiduguri to start in 2021, says Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation Minister

Amaechi said this during the 2021 budget defence of the ministry’s estimates before the Joint Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives held in Abuja on Friday.

The Minister said that the rehabilitation of the gauge was part of priority projects of the Federal Government to achieve multimodal transportation to enhance economic growth.

He also added that the construction of the central railway from Itakpe to Abuja and connection to new Warri Port is part of the priority projects.

Rotimi disclosed that the ministry was proposing a total capital vote of N205,161,882,492 to cover: Land, N204,316,793,527; Marine, N845,088,965; and overhead of N358,799,999 in the 2021 budget for consideration.

The former Governor of Rivers State said that the aims and objectives of the proposals were to make significant progress on all ongoing projects as well as to complete and deliver modern railway services.

Adding that the proposals would also provide an efficient and cost effective alternative transport for economic growth.

‘It is also for creation of job opportunities for the citizens of the country.’

Furthermore, he said that under the railway modernisation programme, the construction of Lagos – Ibadan Standard Gauge line had reached 92 per cent completion.

In the same vein, for the project to achieve full loan drawn down from our co-financier, China EXIM Bank, and attain practical completion for intended purpose, some aspects of works involving construction of upgraded railway stations, signaling and telecommunication system among others have to be completed.

“These additional and extra works amounting to 656 million dollars which is to be financed 100 per cent by the Federal Government has been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for implementation.

‘Therefore, in order not to forestall the progress of implementation, therefore to facilitate the completion of the project, adequate fund needs to be provided in the 2021 budget proposal.’

The Transportation Minister said that the ministry in its budget proposal had presented amounts required for completion of some projects by the year 2021.

He stated that it included completion and fencing on the Abuja – Kaduna railway line to ensure security and safety of train operations for the staff members, passengers and general public.

In his statement, Mr Tajudeen Abass, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport, requested additional time to consider the budget proposal for the ministry owing to the delay in the submission of the document.