Minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said Warri-Ajaokuta-Obaro-Abuja central rail project was expected to attract a minimum of $30 billion investment into the country.

Amaechi said this while briefing the Joint Senate and House of Representatives’ Committee on Land Transport on Monday in Abuja, saying the Federal Government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Railway Construction Corporation in respect of the project on Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

According to Amaechi, the MoU also covers the construction and expansion of Warri Port and Harbour, construction of deep-sea port and construction of industrial park at Port Harcourt and Bonny Island.
Amaechi said the government had also signed the contract for the construction of Calabar to Port Harcourt rail line with extension from Port Harcourt to Onne deep-sea port.

He explained that the project was the Segment one of the Coastal railway projects stemming from Lagos to Calabar with branch line Benin to Onitsha, including the Onitsha bridge rail station.
The minister also said the Lagos-Ibadan Segment 2 of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project would soon commence; the line would also extend to the Apapa ports from Ebute Metta. “We have also signed the implementation agreement in August for Kano-Kaduna of which the initial commercial contract agreement was signed in 2006. The other segments namely Ibadan-Ilorin-Abuja and Minna- Kaduna will come on as the negotiations and works progress. “In the road transportation mode, our priorities include the completion of some freight offices including that of Seme in Lagos State; Shaki in Oyo State and Illela in Sokoto State. “Others are Kamba in Kebbi State; Jibiya in Katsina State; Gamboru Ngala in Borno and Idiroko in Ogun State as well as the commencement of inter-state road transit,” he said.

He said the present administration was determined to reposition the transportation sector for optimal performance, principally by creating an enabling legal and legislative framework to encourage private investment in the sector. He said the long-term effect of divestment by government in railway transportation had been the major factor in Nigeria’s weak position in the railway sector.
According to him, the narrow gauge system will provide affordable and safe transport to over 5.1 million passengers a year. “This will also account for over 20 million tonnes, amounting to almost 35 percent of freight movement per year,” he stated. Responding, Gbenga Ashafa, chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, said the visit of the committee was to conduct an on the spot assessment of performance of the ministry within the life span of the 2016 budget.

Ashafa said the disposition of the committee to the ministry’s proposals in the 2017 budget would be largely guided by its assessment of the ministry’s performance in the current period. He said that the legislative arm was committed to providing the requisite legislative support to the executive in its drive to create change in the country’s transport landscape.

According to him, the committee believes that with the senate’s passage of the 2016 Railway Bill; more avenues have been opened up in the rail transport sector for foreign direct investment. While commending the government for the completion of Abuja-Kaduna rail project, Ashafa called for adequate security measure in the rail corridors.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the joint senate and house committee members, during the oversight visit, inspected the Idu and Kubwa rail stations.

Largas:
Bubu and his Government talk too much.

Was expecting pictures of commissioned projects and you're talking about TO BUILD.

#Yawns.
Abeg who dey sell a bag of Rice 15k? Hunger wan kee yua boy.

Heavance:
I pray this brings progress to Nigeria irrespective of the party in power

sarrki:



If the foundation be destroyed what can the righteous do


PDP destroyed everything

Largas:
Bubu and his Government talk too much.

Was expecting pictures of commissioned projects and you're talking about TO BUILD.

#Yawns.
Abeg who dey sell a bag of Rice 15k? Hunger wan kee yua boy.

idensko:
So second Niger bridge is not important

Enugu onitsha express way

Why is dre No rail line for Onitsha Enugu Makurdi lokoja to Abuja rail line?

What is in Kebbi and Bauch that they re constructing double carriage way?

Jokers everywhere.

And they want one Nigeria

Iyanlanya everybody.

idensko:
So second Niger bridge is not important

Enugu onitsha express way

Why is dre No rail line for Onitsha Enugu Makurdi lokoja to Abuja rail line?

What is in Kebbi and Bauch that they re constructing double carriage way?

Jokers everywhere.


And they want one Nigeria

Iyanlanya everybody.

Bujumbura:
No matter the nonsense they say, the Senate should NEVER assent to that 30billion dollars

idensko:
So second Niger bridge is not important
Enugu onitsha express way
Why is dre No rail line for Onitsha Enugu Makurdi lokoja to Abuja rail line?
What is in Kebbi and Bauch that they re constructing double carriage way?
Jokers everywhere.
And they want one Nigeria
Iyanlanya everybody.