The hope for Nigeria’s interconnectivity by rail may not be coming any time soon, as the cost of completing the project is estimated at $40 billion.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, made this known during the inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project Friday. He, also assured that the project would continue despite any Ministerial change.
According to him, ” The ongoing project cannot stop. The directive of the President, Mohammadu Buhari, is to link Nigeria with rail.
Like I tell Nigerians we need a little patience because we need up to $36 to $40bn to complete the interconnectivity of Nigeria. “When we had that kind of money, what did we do with it? Those criticising the President should have asked that question. I guess they didn’t know that there was a time when we had the money and we enjoyed it through corruption.
“It is very difficult to meet the challenges we are facing and these challenges can only be resolved by funds. “Also, It is very clear that the project cannot be stopped because funding comes from China Nexim Bank, and we have finished paying our own counterpart money so why would it be abandoned? “The good thing about all of this is that we have won the election and the same government is trying to finish the project.
Even if you change the minister it is still the same government.” Asked on challenges confronting the project, the minister expressed dissatisfaction owing to poor survey, saying “I was not impressed with what I saw going by the last inspection.
But they are human beings and have assured me that in one week time they will lay the beams on the tracks. “We are having soil challenges.
At current level the contractors will need to replace the soil to enable smooth operation. Those challenges are as a result of poor geological survey. It was discovered that the water level is high. It is not much of obstacle as they just need to replace the soil. ”
On the Calaber rail project, Amaechi attributed funding as major setback to kick-start project. He explained that “No need to ask of the calabar project, as I am emotionally attached to it. It is unfortunate we have not gotten money yet to fund the project.
The project was awarded under the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, but was supposed to have been passed under former president Olusegun Obasanjo tenue. “However, for the Lagos – Kano project, we are trying to visit china for renegotiation.”
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