FG approves $1.9b for Nigeria to Niger Republic rail line

*N12b approved for Ohafia-Arochukwu

THE Federal Government on Wednesday approved $1.9b for the construction of a rail line that will link Nigeria to Niger Republic.

The approval was given at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Buhari.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the sum approved for the development of the proposed rail line linking Kano-Dutse-Katsina-Jibia and to Maradi in Niger Republic is inclusive of Value Added Tax.

Amaechi said apart from that, the council also approved the award of a contract worth N3.049 billion for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of one railway crane for the purposes of clearing rail tracks in situations of accidents.

FEC also approved the N12.088 billion for the section two of the Ohafia-Arochukwu road in Abia State.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who disclosed this to State House correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting, held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, explained that the 45 kilometre stretch would complete the road, which first section, measuring 19.27 kilometre, had been awarded earlier.

“The memorandum presented by the Ministry of Works and Housing today is for the Section Two of the Ohafia to Arochukwu road. This section comprises Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia road in Abia State and it was approved for construction at N12.088 billion comprising a distance of 45 kilometers to complement Section One, which was previously awarded in 2018, that is the section from Bende/Arochukwu to Ohafia which was 19.27 kilometers.

“So, with this award now, the entire length of the road is now under contract with the same contractor and we hope for expeditious execution,” he said.