Nigerian cabinet approves $2.8m for Ibadan-Lagos, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail projects

The Federal Executive Council approved US$2.8 million for the purchase of rolling stock operational maintenance equipment for the narrow gauge railway projects from Ibadan to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi made the revelation as he addressed House of Representatives’ correspondents at the end of the council meeting chaired by Osinbajo in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to him, rolling materials are consumables intended for the maintenance and operation of the railway.

“I have cabinet approval to procure rolling stock operational maintenance equipment for the new rail project corridors in Ibadan to the standard gauge lines from Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri to the tune of $2,810,574,064.92 including 7.5 per cent of tax.

“Rolling stock are consumables for the maintenance and operation of the railway.

“So with this, we will replace all the rolling stock. They are essentially the consumables that we use to maintain the cars and locomotives on the trains,” he said.

Regarding the reported attack on train passengers in Kogi, Amaechi said that the attack did not take place at the train station and said that the report that reached him indicated that the victims were attacked outside the station while on their way to their Destinations.

He said: “The report I received was not at the train station, it was leaving the station.

“Our responsibility is inside the station. But again, you’re right. I really have to go and find out the level of armed security at the station.

“We have never been attacked inside the station. Well, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t find out.

“So, I thank you for reminding me to check. There are supposed to be police at every station because we have railway police.

“So let me not assume they are there because we have never been attacked at the station.”

Amaechi also confirmed that no one died as a result of the attack, as reported in some quarters.

“The report I received from them was that on the way to their house, the way from the station to the community that they were attacked.

“But I didn’t hear that they were killed. I will find out from the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation,” he added.