Government approves $1.96bn for Northern rail project, okays others

*FEC okays N12billion Umuahia─Bende─Ohafia Road, N3.7 billion for construction of PTDF Corporate Headquarters Abuja

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In order to facilitate seamless movement of goods and persons between the two neighbouring countries, the Federal Government has approved the development of a Northern rail line to link Nigeria with Niger Republic at a cost of $1.96 billion.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Minister for Transportation, disclosed this to reporters Wednesday, September 23 at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, FCT.

Amaechi stated that the rail project would link Kano and Katsina in Northern Nigeria with the city of Maradi in Southern Niger to facilitate the movement of goods between both countries.

Another contract also approved for the Ministry is a N3.04billion contract for the design, manufacture, supply, testing, and commissioning of one railway crane of 150-ton capacity for emergency and recovery of rolling stocks.

Others are 62 new Black Maria vehicles, 8 more forensic auditors for the NDDC, and the construction of the Umuahia─Bende─Ohafia Road.

The highway in Umuahia is expected to engulf over N12 billion, while, the sum of N3.7 billion was approved as augmentation of the contract for the construction of the Petroleum Development Fund (PTDF) Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

Similarly, eight more forensic field auditors were added to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) audit while, 1,800 laptops were approved for the customs service schools in Abuja, Lagos, and Kano for the sum of N351.5 million, and N197.8 million was approved for the expansion of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) cash management software.