Transport Ministry Affirm Commitment To Kano-Maradi Rail

…Presents N92.6b 2023 Budget

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has said it remain committed with to the construction of Kano-Maradi railway amongst other in-country ongoing major rail construction, hinting that efforts are in place to secure the required loans to conclude the construction projects.

Sambo, perm sec. Dr. Ajani, others at the National Assembly

The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo who disclosed during the presentation of his ministry’s budget presentation at the parliament in Abuja yesterday, added that other segments involved in the rail construction include the Kaduna – Kano and Port Harcourt- Maidugiri lines.

A statement by the ministry quoted Sambo as saying, “The implementation of the Kaduna – Kano, Port Harcourt- Maidugiri and Kano-Maradi segments of the Railway Modernization is ongoing with the Federal Government counterpart funding in the 2022 appropriation, while expecting the Federal Ministry of Finance to conclude negotiations of the loans with the Infrastructure Development Finance Institutions of the Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish origin to implement the projects.”

The statement added that the Minister presented a budget of Ninety Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and eighteen  (N92,633,608,218) Naira only, to the Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Land and Marine Transport for the Ministry and its agencies for 2023 fiscal year.

L-R: Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, Chairman House Committee on Maritime Safety, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, Honourable Minister of Transportation, Hon. Patrick Asadu, Chairman House Committee on Waterways, Senator Danjuma Goje, representing Gombe central and Chairman, National Assembly House Committee on Marine and Land Transport at the Budget presentation by the Honourable Minister of Transportation to the National Assembly House Committee on Marine and Land Transport

In addition, the minister presented the 2022 Budget Performance of the Ministry which was N147,549,080,677 out of which N52,134,727,253.22 representing  35.33%  has been released and  N38,904,208,345 has been utilized as at 25th October, 2022, he said.

While soliciting for favourable budget consideration on the rail segment, the Minister said: “Permit me to also report that the Lagos – Ibadan segment of the Lagos – Kano and Itakpe to Warrii railway project are fully operational and receiving patronage from the general public. To reach practical completion on these projects, some aspects of works, including construction of  Overpass Bridges, connection to the National Grid and other ancillary provisions have to be completed. Therefore, adequate funds need to be provided in the 2023 budget to facilitate the practical completion of the projects”.

On the unfortunate incident on Abuja- Kaduna bound train, the Minister said: “while recording successes achieved in the Railway Subsector, permit me to also mention the sad occurrence of the Abuja – Kaduna Rail incident. With the release of those abducted, the Ministry plans to commence operation on the line, but not without taking proper precaution by installing necessary security gadgets to monitor the line and forestall a reoccurrence. It is our hope that Distinguish Senators and Honourable Members would assist the Ministry in achieving this plan”.

He used the opportunity to further emphasize that the Ministry as part of its mandate  has continued to pursue the implementation of Government policies in the Land Transport Sub- sector in the country, including issues relating to the  Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocols and conventions entered into in respect of the Sub- sector.

Speaking on the National Freight Offices at Iiela, Sambo said: “we have achieved significant progress in completing the ongoing National Freight Offices at Iiela Jibiya and Idiroko in addition to other Land Transport Projects and with your support, the capturing of all these projects and programs as proposed before you in the 2023 Budget proposal will assist us further towards actualizing the desired goals”.

Earlier, the Chairman, National Assembly Committee on Land and Marine, Sen. Danjuma Goje expressed dismay that the budget is not implemented within the budget year despite early approval by the National Assembly.

“You see, the National Assembly has been able to achieve approval of the budgets within the budget circle; for three years, we have been able to approve these budgets by the end of December. But surprisingly, the implementation of the budget does not Correspond with the urgency to which we attach in approving these budgets”, he said.

While giving assurances that the Committees will support the Minister and the agencies to succeed, Goje enjoined them to see that the budget is implemented faithfully “to deliver government intentions and democracy dividends to Nigerians.”