Nigerian transport minister Rotimi
Amaechi has said the country is negotiating a six-billion dollar loan
with the Chinese government to complete the Ibadan to Kano rail track.
Amaechi has said the country is negotiating a six-billion dollar loan
with the Chinese government to complete the Ibadan to Kano rail track.
Amaechi said in Abuja while clarifying
issues on the overhaul of the transport sector since the inception of
the current administration.
issues on the overhaul of the transport sector since the inception of
the current administration.
According to Ameachi, completing the
Ibadan to Kano corridor among others in the country will help to boost
the nation’s economy.
Ibadan to Kano corridor among others in the country will help to boost
the nation’s economy.
“We are currently in negotiation with the China EXIM bank to get nearly about six billion dollars to do from Ibadan to Kano.
“It is a difficult decision because the
money required is about 8 billion dollars to do the double track but the
Chinese are insisting that they cannot fund double track so they are
asking us to do a single track.
money required is about 8 billion dollars to do the double track but the
Chinese are insisting that they cannot fund double track so they are
asking us to do a single track.
“They are asking us to do a single track
and they want it at Minna so that instead of going from Minna to Kaduna,
we should go from Minna to Abuja and then join it from Abuja to Kaduna.
and they want it at Minna so that instead of going from Minna to Kaduna,
we should go from Minna to Abuja and then join it from Abuja to Kaduna.
“But there are those who argue that we
should not accept that, rather we should tell them (Chinese) to fund it
in segments. This, however, does not make economic sense.
should not accept that, rather we should tell them (Chinese) to fund it
in segments. This, however, does not make economic sense.
“We are compelled to adjust just to have movement of goods, personnel and services from Lagos to Kano.
“What makes economic sense is the ability to get
the track to a seaport so that we can move goods.
the track to a seaport so that we can move goods.
“ What makes economic sense to rail services is the movement of goods,’’ Amaech said
Amaechi said that the ministry was also
in talk with some companies in America to fund the Lagos to Calabar rail
corridor and another Chinese company to fund Port Harcourt to Maiduguri
corridor.
in talk with some companies in America to fund the Lagos to Calabar rail
corridor and another Chinese company to fund Port Harcourt to Maiduguri
corridor.
He explained that this was in line with
the directives of President Muhamaddu Buhari that the rail lines must
reach all state capitals.
the directives of President Muhamaddu Buhari that the rail lines must
reach all state capitals.
The minister of transportation said that there was also a huge improvement in the water transportation sector.
Amaechi said that on the approval for
waterways security, 195 million dollars had been approved as he
expressed confidence that it would help reduce crime in the maritime
sector.
waterways security, 195 million dollars had been approved as he
expressed confidence that it would help reduce crime in the maritime
sector.
According to him, the Federal Government
has approved l 195 million dollars to hire an Israeli company to help
train security personnel to man the waterways.
has approved l 195 million dollars to hire an Israeli company to help
train security personnel to man the waterways.
He said under the watch of the current
administration, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had
moved from contract awarding to a proper regulatory agency.
administration, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) had
moved from contract awarding to a proper regulatory agency.
Amaechi said that the aviation sector had
also experienced a great overhaul which improved safety without
incidence of plane crash during the current administration.
also experienced a great overhaul which improved safety without
incidence of plane crash during the current administration.
He said to ensure the continued safety in
the aviation sector, the Federal Government would ensure that equipment
and policies remained in place.
the aviation sector, the Federal Government would ensure that equipment
and policies remained in place.
