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Buhari Government Approves N454Billion For Kano-Niger Republic Railway, Other Projects

Buhari Government Approves N454Billion For Kano-Niger Republic Railway, Other Projects
March 23, 2023

The proposed rail project was criticised by the National Assembly joint committee on land and marine transport in November 2021.

 

President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has agreed to release an additional N454 billion in public funds to continue the construction of the Kano-Niger Railway and other capital projects.

This was started on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa by the transportation minister, Mu'azu Sambo, who explained that N454 billion would be used to purchase rolling stock, operation and maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line, which is currently under construction.

The sum also includes N510.93 million for the purchase of four customised fire service/search and rescue vans for seaports in Port Harcourt, Lagos Port Complex, Tincan Island port, and the Nigerian Ports Authority's Marina headquarters.

The 248-kilometre rail line will connect Kano to other cities such as Kazaure in Bauchi state, Daura and Mashi in Katsina state, Dutse in Jigawa state, and the border town of Jibia before terminating in Maradi, Niger Republic's trade and agricultural hub.

According to Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate former transport minister, the line has 15 stations along its route and is expected to carry 9,364 passengers and 3000 metric tonnes of cargo per day.

However, the project has met with opposition, particularly from lawmakers.

The proposed rail project was criticised by the National Assembly joint committee on land and marine transport in November 2021.

Speaking on Wednesday, Sambo said, “The memorandum sought consideration and approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the procurement of rolling stock, operation or maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line that is currently under construction.

"The contract was awarded to MSSRS Mota-Engil Nigeria Limited.

"They are handling this particular project in the sum of $984,722,302, and inclusive of seven and a half percent VAT with a completion period of four years.”

Sambo said a memo the contract award "for the construction and supply of four customized fire service search and rescue vans for extrication of accident victims for Rivers Ports in Port Harcourt, Lagos Port complex, Tincan Island Port and the Marina headquarters of the NPA, all in Lagos state” was also presented on behalf of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

In June 2021, President Buhari defended his government’s initiative to build a railway to connect Nigeria and Niger Republic during an exclusive interview on Arise TV.

He said, “How many neighbours do we have both on individual and national hood. You have to cultivate your neighbour. If you don’t, you are in trouble. If you could recall when I came, I went to Chad, I went to Niger and I went to the Cameroons.

“Look at what is happening around Boko Haram, if we are not in good relationship with Niger and Chad and Cameroon, Boko Haram would have done worse things to us than this.

“And you say I am taking it to Niger. I told you the border between us and Nigeria is 1,400 km and Niger you see… I spoke to one Frenchman and I had to tell him this, ‘you people in 1885, you set down a ruler and pencil and draw lines.”

“I have first cousins in Niger. There are Kanuris, there are Hausas and there are Fulanis in Niger Republic, just as there are Yorubas in Benin Republic.

“You can’t absolutely cut them off. But the rail, look at the plan. If you read the plan, how we are rehabilitating that rail. Niger, they discovered oil too as you know and we don’t want to allow them to go through Benin Republic. We want them to come through Nigeria.

“We hope they will decide when we take the rail up to Maradi. Then they will send all their exports and so on through Nigeria rather than through Benin.”