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The National Assembly has criticized the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi due to the federal government’s decision to construct a standard gauge railway line from Kano (North West Nigeria) to Maradi in Niger.
The Joint Committee of the Legislature on Land and Marine Transport, condemned the plan, accusing the executive of not putting the national interest ahead of other considerations.
The committee’s protest came to fore during the presentation of the 2022 budget proposal of the Ministry and agencies under it.
Chairman of the House Committee on Port, Honourable Pat Asadu (Ovoko/Igbo Eze South federal Constituency) asked the Minister why the South East was left out in the government’s rail construction agenda.
“If the Ministry feels that doing a 287 kilometers of railway track from Kano to Maradi that you will fund with Nigerian money borrowed for Nigerians to be paid by our children to do a world class railway to Maradi. I also know the economy of Niger Republic and I believe the economy of the Southeast is bigger than that of Maradi.
“I am not even talking of South-South. So what policy guide, what need assessment, what study of federal character integration would make the Ministry of Transportation to put 284 kilometers railway from the end of the north to Maradi and then constructing a Narrow Gauge in the South East and South South.
Looking at the core mandate of the Ministry in policy formulation and monitoring, looking at your key railway projects which you’ve highlighted, I think they are worth the spent.
“We are now looking at the difference between project D which is the construction 284 kilometers Nigeria-Maradi railway standard world class line against Project C where you talked about the total rehabilitation and reconstruction of Port Harcourt to Maiduguri eastern rail network defined as narrow gauge.
For a segment of this country that is known for trade and commerce, they need railway as they need air.
“This to me is why the integration of this country will always be challenged because things are done with so much impunity. This is our common wealth. So if we approve this budget for you, you will go and do Kano Maradi standard rail line and do a narrow gauge rehabilitation for the South East.
My heart bleeds. Instead of doing the right thing, you are now giving us this one as what will enhance the economy of Niger and Nigeria, while the economy of Nigerians especially those who have the containers and who are always on the road are given a narrow gauge rehabilitation.”
The committee also queried the Minister’s argument that the differences in rail-line gauges was based on the willingness of lenders to give the federal government loans to execute the projects.
Responding to the issue raised,Ameachi said that difference between the Narrow gauge and Standard gauge is speed adding that the country may not get the money to standard gauge across the country.
He said that the negotiation for loan for the construction of Kano- Maradi standard gauge line is about to be completed.
He also clarified that his ministry was yet to get money for Kano-Kaduna, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway projects. “The only money we have gotten is $1.4bn for Lagos-Ibadan rail project,” he said.
On the economic justification for constructing the $1.3bn Kano-Maradi rail, Ameachi said the project was not based on sentiments but economic benefits for the country.
He disclosed that on completion of Kano-Maradi and Kano to Lagos railway, all national cargoes from Niger Republic, like uranium and gold, would be moved through Nigerian sea port from that corridor.
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