EASTERN RAIL PROJECT: Amaechi brings Govs, Ministers, Others in to P/Harcourt, As Buhari Flags Off $3.2bn Eastern Rail Project
Oru Leonard
The Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, in exited mode on gathered the Top leaders of the Federal and state government in the $3.2bn Eastern Rail Project which was flag off by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, March 9, 2021.
Buhari who is passionate about reviving the 1067 km Port-Harcourt-Maiduguri rail line which had been abandoned for 36 years, has flaged off rehabilitation & reconstruction of rail route with and expansion of 997 km branch lines, bringing the total project to2044 km.
Speaking virtually, the President stated that the ceremony was to mark the commencement of the implementation of another important national infrastructure which consists of three projects.
“First is the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri narrow gauge railway reconstruction project with new branch lines to Owerri, Imo State and Damaturu, Yobe State. The project is with the objective of resuscitating the once vibrant railway transportation in the Eastern railway corridor of the country, Port-Harcourt – Maiduguri.
“We are further expanding it to achieve contemporary demand for transport in the North East and Southern geopolitical zones of the country. It is also designed to link other standard gauge rail lines under construction through the provision of transhipment centres. The funding of the railway is through a loan to fund 85% project cost and the Federal Government contribution of 15% as counterpart funding,” he stated.
Speaking further he disclosed that the second and the third projects are the Bonny deep seaport and a Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt that are to be constructed through direct investments by the Chinese partners and international financing agencies, adding that prudent use of resources and local content has been given priority in planning the project.
The Nigeria Police Band and other cultural troupes that performed at event“The connection of the railway to a new seaport in Bonny Island and Railway Industrial Park, Port Harcourt is designed to increase the viability and boost transhipment of cargo and freight locally, across the West African sub-region and in the Continental Free Trade Area,” Buhari stated noting that the “sum of the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these projects includes the creation of massive employment locally.”
He said that there will be further utilization of local contents and technology transfer, increase in internally generated revenue and would serve as a fulcrum for the achievement of the Federal Government planned Integrated Development Masterplan.
Earlier in his welcome address, Rt. Hon. Amaechi stated “the Eastern narrow gauge railway is one of the transport infrastructure established in the pre-independence period and played a significant role in the development of agriculture and industrial sectors in the colonial era and immediate post-independence year up till 1985 when it became unfit for purpose as a result of the general neglect and divestment suffered by the Nigerian railways.
“The effort of government at the rehabilitation of this rail line in year 2009 – 2012, did not achieve the desired outcome, partly due to inadequate funding and incompetence of some of the contractors employed. The rail line, therefore, remains unserviceable.”
He explained that “the need for a functional rail line on this Eastern corridor persists and remain compelling as the supply chain for products and services on this corridor vanishes and articles and items such as petroleum products, iron and steel, minerals, livestock and poultry products availability were reduced giving rise to the high cost and affecting the manufacturing and agro-allied industries. The Federal Government, therefore, focused on its revival.
“While the railway project is to be co-financed by a loan from a syndicate of Chinese financiers with Federal Government contribution of 15% project cost, the Bonny Deepsea port and Railway Industrial park, Port Harcourt are being developed through direct investment by the conglomerate led Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited with a total investment portfolio of US$700Million. This investment gain can be attributed to the unrelenting effort of the Ministry.
“Upon completion, trains on the Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge Railway will run at 60 – 80 kilometres per hour Kph and 80 – 100 kilometres per hour Kph for freight and passenger respectively.
“The Bonny Deepsea port has a container terminal of 500,000 TEU (20-foot equivalent unit) per annum capacity and 100,000 DWT (Deadweight tonnage) Berth. The Railway Industrial park, Port Harcourt would be supported by necessary infrastructure (Power, Water, Waste Disposal, ICT, Gas distribution) as well as transportation, logistics centres and ancillaries”.
The board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Led by Engr Ibrahim Alhassan, The Managing Director of NRC, Engr Fideht Okhira and his team, Directors and staff of the Federal Ministry of Transportation play good hosts at event.
Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and his Plateau State counterpart Simon Lalong were among the dignitaries that stormed Port Harcourt for the ceremony.
The Ministers who graced the occasion include Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment and others.
