FG secures over N500bn from ADB for Kano-Maradi rail project

Agency Report

The federal government has secure $350 million from the African Development Bank for works on the Kano-Maradi rail project which was started by the Muhammadu Buhari administration just as it reaffirmed its commitment to railway modernisation and rehabilitation across the country.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Sen. Adamu Aliero, disclosed this during an inspection of the Lagos-Abeokuta railway track.

Speaking to journalists at the Professor Wole Soyinka Railway Station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, he said the supplementary appropriation bill allocated over N530 billion for counterpart funding the various projects adding that 85% will be sourced from international partners like the African Development Bank and China Exim Bank.

He said, “The supplementary appropriation bill was brought to the national assembly and in the bill we have over N530b which is meant to be counterpart funding for railway modernisation and rehabilitation in Nigeria.

“That amount is he counterpart funding. 85 per cent of the funding is going to be sourced from outside either from China Exim bank, IFC or African Development Bank.”

Aliero confirmed that during the General Yakubu Gowon’s birthday lecture that occurred last week, it was announced that the African Development Bank will release $350 million for the Kano to Maradi rail line construction, asserting that negotiations are underway for funding to connect Ibadan to Kano.

“Just last week, we were at General Gowon’s birthday lecture anniversary for his 90th year and the President of the African Development Bank told us that 350 million dollars will be released to the federal government of Nigeria for the construction of the rail line from Kano to Maradi and equally the President of Nigeria was in China last month where negotiations were done to release the 85 per cent funding for Ibadan to Kano,” he said.

However, the Committee expressed satisfaction with ongoing projects, particularly the automated ticketing system that minimizes fraud risks.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation is also set to benefit from technology transfer initiatives aimed at enhancing local maintenance capabilities.

Aliero said, “We are impressed by what we have seen so far from Lagos to Abeokuta to Ibadan. We are highly impressed by the digital system, it is automated and it is difficult to commit any fraud.

“Service providers have been employed to issue tickets and whatever percentage that has been collected goes to them and the remaining money goes to the Nigeria Railway Corporation which is shared based on the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

“On the issue of technical services, we are very impressed. The maintenance has been addressed. We are impressed by the technical services of the CCECC and it is transferring technology to Nigerians to ensure that even after their departure, Nigerians will be able to maintain the locomotives and coaches.

The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the capabilities of the NRC through robust legislative support.

“Let me assure you that the committee is willing and committed to making sure that the NRC meets its mandate by providing all the legislative support to give the NRC.

“This is the kind of thing we want. The maintenance culture will be imbibed by Nigerians. Nigeria’s engineers have come of age. They are as competent as Chinese and European engineers. What it requires is to give them on the job training to improve their technical capacities. We are very impressed with what we have seen.

“The constitution of Nigeria has been altered so that railway which used to be on the exclusive reserve of the federal government is now going to the concurrent legislative list which means both the federal and state governments can legislate on the railway.

“And with that amendment, States are now allowed to establish their own rail line but the NRC will be the regulator to ensure security and standards,” he added.

He called on state governors to improve accessibility to railway stations as part of ongoing efforts to modernize the country’s transportation infrastructure.

He stressed, “On the issue of roads, complementary services are expected to be provided by the state government.

“I wish to call on state governors to do their own bit by providing accessibility to the railway stations. It is not desirable to have a railway station in your state where thousands are being transported without an access road. State government must come in and complement whatever the federal government is doing particularly on the issue of intra-connectivity, it is solely the responsibility of the state governors and even the local governments, funds are released, and they should be able to provide accessible roads.”

He noted that negotiations are currently underway for new rail links, including routes from Aba to Enugu and further connections extending to Maiduguri.

“I am happy that negotiations are ongoing now on the possibility of linking Aba to Enugu, from Enugu to Makurdi. Makurdi to Jos, Jos to Bauchi, Bauchi to Gombe and Gombe to Maiduguri, he stated.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating these projects, which aim to facilitate the movement of goods and people while extending the lifespan of existing roads.

“Some of us commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for initiating this project. Honestly, it is not easy. It is over 1000 km from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. It will allow easy movement of people and goods and it will even increase the lifespan of our roads.

“Most of our roads have been rehabilitated or constructed but got damaged simply because of heavy haulage of goods; cement in particular, industrial raw materials, bulk items being transported on road.

“Some of them carry up to about 70 tons instead of 30 tons and there is no regulation. That is why there is a lot of damage on our road. That is why railway transportation is a necessity in developing countries like Nigeria where transportation is very important,” Aliero added.

The inspection commenced at Mobolaji Johnson Station in Alagomeji, Lagos State, and continued to Professor Wole Soyinka Station in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Present at the event were members of the Senate Committee on Land Transport, including the Chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero, Vice Chairman, Senator Benson Friday Kombowei, and Senators Sharafadeen Alli, Tony Nwoye, Kelvin Chukwu, Planning Dicket, and Solomon Jokotoye and the members of NRC led by its Managing Director, Ben Iloanusi.