FG approves rehabilitation and reconstruction of Port Harcourt-Maiduguri railway
By Maureen Ikpeama
The Federal Executive Council (FEC).
has approved contracts for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri eastern narrow gauge railway, by the
The approval came a few days after the Minister of Transportation , Chibuike Amaechi for extending rail lines up to Niger Republic, without anyone passing through his home state.
The new project would come with branch lines and trans-shipment facilities, according to Amaechi, who made this known when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the 18th virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council.
The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Amechi said that the Council approved the construction of a new deep seaport in Bonny, under Private-Public- Partnership (PPP) programme and the construction of a railway Industrial park in Port Harcourt.
“The Federal Executive Council today, approved the award of contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway, with new branch lines and trans-shipment facilities.
“It also approved the construction of a deep seaport in Bonny under PPP and construction of a railway industrial park in Port Harcourt.
“The railway line will be at the cost of $3,020,279,549. The industrial park, which is under PPP, at no cost to federal government, will cost $241,154,389.31.
“The Bonny deep seaport will cost $461,924,369, at no cost to the federal government.
“The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway will have new branch lines: from Port Harcourt to Bonny and from Port Harcourt to Owerri are new lines.
“There is another connecting to narrow gauge to standard guage at Kafanchan.
“There is a branch line from Gombe or before Maiduguri to Damaturu and Gashua. That’s what has been approved,’’ he said.
Post a Comment