Senate querries Ministry of Transport plans to borrow 4.4billion Dollars for Ibadan-Kano rail construction

February 05 15:14 2020 by The Ajasa News Print This Article

By Martin Odiete, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate seems not to be satisfied with the explanation provided by the Ministry of Transport to borrow a whooping sum of 4.4billion US dollars required for the construction of the IBADAN-KANO rail Line.

The ministry minister of state Gbemisola Saraki had appeared before the Senate committe on local content Tuesday to brief them on the need to give approval to the loan request. But apparently not satisfied, the committee decided to invite the Minister, Rotimi Ameachi to appear before them in a later date.

But Saraki reiterated the commitment of the Federal government and the Ministry of Transport to deliver a world class rail transport system to Nigeria.

She harped on the need for more funding for the rail project saying that it is important for the Senate to grant approval for the 4.4billion loan required to execute the IBADAN-KANO phase of the rail project in order to deliver on the promises of PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI in line with the Next level agenda.

Also during the session, SARAKI assured the Panel that the LAGOS- IBADAN end of the rail project would be delivered by April-May, jokingly promising to take the distinguished Senators on a ride to mark her birthday in May.

When asked by journalists why the lawmakers were not too satisfied to her presentation for the proposed 4.4bilion US dollars loan, the former Senator from Kwara State said she is convinced that the loans approval would be granted stating that the lawmakers were just being diligent in discharging their oversight functions.

In her words: “They didn’t say they were not satisfied, they only said they have more questions, you can understand that, lots of money is involved, so they just want to ensure everything is alright”

“Am sure at the end of it, the senate would approved. SARAKI concluded.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government of Nigeria approved the construction of the IBADAN-KANO rail line project in December 2019.

According to the technical report, the LAGOS–KANO STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY is an under construction standard gauge railway across Nigeria, from the Atlantic Ocean port of Lagos to Kano,
near the Niger border.

The railway will run parallel to the British-built Cape gauge line, which has a lower design capacity and is in a deteriorated condition.

The railway is being built in segments. Only the segment between Abuja and Kaduna has been completed so far, and services began officially in July 2016.