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Amaechi Expresses Dissatisfaction Over Speed Of Railway Project

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Aminat Isah, Abuja

The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed dissatisfaction over pace of work on the Lagos-Ibadan rail line by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) as not too well.

The Minister stated this while briefing journalists at the end of his monthly inspection of the rail line project in Ibadan on on Monday saying that although the Contractor attributed the setback in the pace of work to the transition in government, it has no excuse as approval was given and payment was made on Friday with approval for additional projects.

“CCECC has not done too well. I used the phrase too well because at a time, they did us proud by trying to push this job. They claim that at the end of the last government, we were owing them some money and we had not given approvals for the extra and additional jobs.

“But that’s not an excuse because we will still have given the approval. So they have slowed down so badly. We need to get them to that speed that they were before the last government was dissolved.
We paid them on Friday. The cabinet and president has approved the additional and extra works so they have no excuse,” said Amaechi

Amaechi further revealed that if loan is secured for Ibadan-Kano rail line project, there wouldn’t be delays, saying that the project can quickly commence from Kano to Kaduna and Ibadan to Ilorin to ensure early completion.

Speaking on coastal rail, Amaechi said “I am from Rivers State and it’s important that we do that. We already applied for a loan. If we get the loan, will start the segment from Port Harcourt to Warri and from Benin to Onitsha. The loan will be from China but not China EXIM bank,”

Similarly speaking, the Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration efforts in creating both direct and indirect jobs opportunities and enabling environment for business is for Nigerians is achieved.

Saraki further said the Cabotage act which was passed some years ago without implementation needs to be revisited since it gives room for the creation of job opportunities.

“We have to go back again to look at the issue of the shipping industry and cabotage and the main issues right now is that of port decongestion and I was humbled to be one of the people who passed the cabotage Act and many years later, to see that it has not been fully implemented is a bit disheartening.

“The most important thing is to ensure that at the end of it, what the president wants which is the issue of creating jobs for the teeming number of Nigerians will be done.

“I can assure you that the Maritime sector as it is done anywhere else in the world, is a sector that can create a lot of jobs and opportunities,” said Saraki

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