By Gbenga Abulude (Politics and General desk)
The Federal Government has approved the sum of $1,959,744,723.71 for the construction of a rail line that will link Nigeria to Niger Republic.
The rail line is set to boost trade between the two West African countries and in the northern corridor of the nation.
The Federal Executive Council during its meeting Wednesday in Abuja gave the approval for the rail line construction.
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The FEC meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, the amount ($1,959,744,723.71) was approved for the development of the proposed rail line which will link Kano-Dutse-Katsina-Jibia and to Maradi in Niger Republic.
Amaechi said the council also approved the award of a contract worth N3.049 bilion for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of one railway crane for the purposes of clearing rail tracks in situations of accidents.
Recall that in January, the minister announced that the federal government was spending the sum of N67.165 billion on 7 railway projects across the country including the rail line from Kano to Maradi that was approved Wednesday.
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This sum was contained in the 2020 budget signed by President Buhari. Amaechi further clarified that the funds were its share of counterpart funding for the railway projects, which also included the construction of a deep seaport, industrial park and port harbor.
The rail line projects listed by Amaech are: Lagos-Kano, Calabar – Lagos, Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Aladja (Warri) and Port Harcourt- Maiduguri.
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Other rail projects that were captured in the Ministry of Transport’s 2020 budget include Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic, Abuja-Itakpe and Aladja (Warri) project.
