Nigeria: How Buhari stopped me from unnecessary borrowings for Nigeria’s Rail Projects – Amaechi
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| The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi |
The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Sunday said
that in the course of executing the Warri-Itakpe Rail line, stations were built
in the villages of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains.
that in the course of executing the Warri-Itakpe Rail line, stations were built
in the villages of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains.
Mr. Amaechi disclosed this at the ‘Next Level Presentation’ at
Presidential Villa Banquet Hall to signal the commencement of the campaign of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 general elections.
The minister who made a presentation titled ‘What We are Building
‘ said that President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office, directed
that old and abandoned projects be completed.
‘ said that President Muhammadu Buhari, upon assumption of office, directed
that old and abandoned projects be completed.
“The truth is that the country is compelled to make a choice
between good and bad. When I was appointed the Minister for Transportation, the
president warned-do not start new contracts, go and complete old ones.
between good and bad. When I was appointed the Minister for Transportation, the
president warned-do not start new contracts, go and complete old ones.
“We met Itakpe -Warri Rail line which had been in existence
for 34 years uncompleted; it would have been the first Standard Guage line in
Africa if it was completed.
for 34 years uncompleted; it would have been the first Standard Guage line in
Africa if it was completed.
“Based on the president’s
instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China; but the
president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the
project.
instruction, I did a memo; I thought we will borrow money from China; but the
president refused. He said we should use our internal funds to execute the
project.
“People saw me on social media on Train service from Warri to
Itakpe. I got to Warri 8 p.m. because I was going from one station to the
other–almost all the villages and most prominent members of PDP made sure that
train stations were in their villages.
Itakpe. I got to Warri 8 p.m. because I was going from one station to the
other–almost all the villages and most prominent members of PDP made sure that
train stations were in their villages.
“So, I am compelled to do those stations in villages of
members of PDP; it is okay; it is the instruction of the president that you
must go and finish the old work.”
members of PDP; it is okay; it is the instruction of the president that you
must go and finish the old work.”
He said that the tradition in the past was that once one was
elected, one left the old things for the old people and awarded new contracts.
elected, one left the old things for the old people and awarded new contracts.
According to Mr Amaechi, the
ministry will start commercial train service from Itakpe to Warri.
ministry will start commercial train service from Itakpe to Warri.
On PDP’s argument that it started the projects, Mr Amaechi said
that Buhari made it clear on commissioning the Abuja -Kaduna rail project that
the project was started by the former government of President Goodluck
Jonathan.
that Buhari made it clear on commissioning the Abuja -Kaduna rail project that
the project was started by the former government of President Goodluck
Jonathan.
“We completed it but two things are remarkable–we borrowed
500 million dollars to start that project at the time oil was selling at 114
dollars per barrel.
500 million dollars to start that project at the time oil was selling at 114
dollars per barrel.
Abuja metro train
“We should not have borrowed; you mean this country could not
have afforded 500 million dollars?
have afforded 500 million dollars?
“I will show that we can; when I wrote a memo to the
president and to the cabinet requesting that he should allow me borrow 500
million dollars from China to buy locomotives and coaches for Lagos-Ibadan, the
cabinet under the directive of the president refused.
president and to the cabinet requesting that he should allow me borrow 500
million dollars from China to buy locomotives and coaches for Lagos-Ibadan, the
cabinet under the directive of the president refused.
“He (the president) said 500 million dollars; we can get from
here and we are funding it from here; so we did and completed Kaduna to Abuja
quickly.
here and we are funding it from here; so we did and completed Kaduna to Abuja
quickly.
“We spend N56 million per
month and we get N16 million; so we are augmenting for both rich and poor–N40
million per month under the directive of the president because he fears that
the poor might not be able to afford it. So, everybody is using it.”
month and we get N16 million; so we are augmenting for both rich and poor–N40
million per month under the directive of the president because he fears that
the poor might not be able to afford it. So, everybody is using it.”
According to him, Lagos to Ibadan railway is almost complete–a
distance of 156kms.
distance of 156kms.
The minister said that application had also been made to construct
Kano to Kaduna railway as approval for funds is being awaited.
Kano to Kaduna railway as approval for funds is being awaited.
“We are about to award the central line from Abuja to Niger
to Baru from Baru to Itakpe to Warri; the president had approved a new seaport
in Warri. We are negotiating with a Chinese company which will build it.
to Baru from Baru to Itakpe to Warri; the president had approved a new seaport
in Warri. We are negotiating with a Chinese company which will build it.
“Do not forget that N2.7 billion dollars is N1 trillion. So,
we are looking for money to commence already awarded work on the coastal rail.
we are looking for money to commence already awarded work on the coastal rail.
“The coastal rail starts from Lagos. From Lagos, it passes
through Ogun State, Ondo, Benin, Asaba, and Onitsha. From Benin again, it
passes through Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, to Bayelsa, in fact, it goes to Utuoke.
From Otuoke, it goes to Port Harcourt.
through Ogun State, Ondo, Benin, Asaba, and Onitsha. From Benin again, it
passes through Warri, Sapele, Ughelli, to Bayelsa, in fact, it goes to Utuoke.
From Otuoke, it goes to Port Harcourt.
“Then from Port Harcourt, it goes to Aba, Uyo, and ends up in
Cross River State.
Cross River State.
“We are almost ready to award
Port Harcourt to Maidugiri. The difference between us and the last award is
that the last award was 1500km but under the directive of Mr President, it was
extended to 2000 km.
Port Harcourt to Maidugiri. The difference between us and the last award is
that the last award was 1500km but under the directive of Mr President, it was
extended to 2000 km.
“The last award was Port
Harcourt straight to Maidugiri but in order to satisfy everybody at the
directive of the President, we must get to every state capital,” he said.
Harcourt straight to Maidugiri but in order to satisfy everybody at the
directive of the President, we must get to every state capital,” he said.
On his part, Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works
and Housing, said that it would require a long journey into Nigeria’s history
to recall when last it had massive investment in infrastructure.
and Housing, said that it would require a long journey into Nigeria’s history
to recall when last it had massive investment in infrastructure.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.
“It is no coincidence that we look to the 1970s and the 1980s
when we built new airports, new seaports, new refineries, new highways and
bridges.
when we built new airports, new seaports, new refineries, new highways and
bridges.
“The closest you will have to that era is the 1990s when
petrol-money was also being applied to upgrade infrastructure under the
Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF )incidentally chaired by Buhari.
petrol-money was also being applied to upgrade infrastructure under the
Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF )incidentally chaired by Buhari.
“We lost an enormous opportunity when recently oil money rose
to $114 dollar per barrel and stayed there for almost a decade and we have no
new airport, refinery, bridges, petrochemical plants, no new seaports to show
accountability to how all the money went,” he said.
to $114 dollar per barrel and stayed there for almost a decade and we have no
new airport, refinery, bridges, petrochemical plants, no new seaports to show
accountability to how all the money went,” he said.
The event also witnessed the unveiling of Buhari-Osinbajo 2019–A
Basic Guide-The Campaign Manual in Brief. (NAN)
Basic Guide-The Campaign Manual in Brief. (NAN)
