Paschal Emeka, Abuja
The House of Representatives has directed the Committee on Land Transportation to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other relevant government agencies to ensure that the East-West Coastal Rail Project is captured in the 2023 budget estimates.
This is the sequel to a motion of urgent public importance raised at plenary on Tuesday, December 6 in Abuja, by Hon. Dozzie Ferdinad Nwanko on the need to continue the East–West Rail Line Project.
The lawmaker informed the House that the Federal Executive Council had, in April 2017, granted approval for the construction of the 1,400km Standard Gauge East-West Coastal Rail Line Project linking Lagos-Ore-Benin-Sapele-Warri-Yenagoa-Port Harcourt-Aba-Uyo-Calabar-Akamkpa-Ikom with a branch line from Benin to Asaba-Onitsha-Port Harcourt-Onne Deep Seaport.
He noted the opting out of Exim Bank of China, the contractor to execute the project, the Federal Government, in March 2021, made arrangements for eleven billion Dollar ($11bn) alternate counterpart funding with Standard Chartered Bank out of the Fourteen Billion, Four Million Dollar ($14.4bn) required to execute the project.
“Aware that in August 2021, the Federal Executive Council approved the award of a contract valued at $11,174, 769, 000 billion for the project; also aware of the importance rail line project to the socio-economic development of the country which necessitated the accelerated completion of the project.
“Disturbed that the project was stopped by the Federal Ministry of Transportation in 2022, despite the concluded arrangement with Standard Chartered Bank and the Federal Government’s N30 billion commitment to the contractor; worried that the non-completion of the Rail Project has aggravated the problems of travelers who suffer delay due to the deplorable state of the road coupled with check-points along Calabar- Lagos road.
“Cognizant that the inability to complete the project within the projected Six (6) years period will continue to put pressure on the two (2) Sea Ports located in Port Harcourt and Lagos and the existing roads.
The House, therefore, resolved to urge the Federal Government to reverse its earlier decision on the project by continuing its implementation considering the economic importance of the Rail project to the nation. The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to review its 25-Year Railway Strategic Plan part of which is to unbundle and commercialize the Nigeria Railway Corporation and mandate the Committee on Land Transportation to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other relevant government agencies to ensure that the East-West Coastal Rail Project is captured in the 2023 budget estimates.