Adequate funds needed to facilitate the completion of project- Amaechi
-Amaechi tenders 2022 budget proposal.
The Hon. Minister of Transportation has tendered the 2022 Budget proposal of the Ministry.
At the National Assembly Complex with House of representatives, Senate committes on marine transport and agencies in the Transportation sector and other invited guest, the minister mentioned that the total capital budget is N147,931,691,294, with an overhead of N258,799,998
He stated that the proposal is to make significant progress on all going project and to complete and deliver modern real services, provide an efficient and cost effective alternative transport system which will promote economic growth and also Job creation.
He futher stated that the government has prioritized the ongoing railway project to achieve desired goals and commenced some new ones that will serve as the transportation backbone and hub for economic development.
Addressing the ongoing project, he stated
“With constant funding provided, The Lagos -Ibadan segment of the Lagos-Kano project and itakpe-warri has been… completed.
While speaking on the flag off for commercial operations, which are opened for passengers services, He also mentioned that new businesses are springing up with direct employment of over 500 filed workers, with operations of over 1million indirect employment and artisan workers.
He also emphasized a need for the provision of adequate fund.
“Adequate funds needs to be provided for in 2022 budget to facilitate the completion of the project”.
“Other prioritised railway and seaport project that are ongoing and planned by the Ministry include;
The construction of Kaduna-Kano Railway, to link up Abuja-Kano Railline has commenced”
According to him, the Link to Ibadan-Minna, Minna-Abuja is ongoing. Construction of the 284km Nigeria -Niger republic, Kano -Maradi to say will encourage the economic growth of the two countries.
When asked about why the hope for the completion of the kano-ibadtan railline he said that the ministry are still expecting money which the National Assembly is yet to release.
While being challenged about the construction of the Kano-Maradi standard guage Railline, which link to another country and also the reconstruction of a narrow gauge in porthacourt, he explained that the standard has been approved in Nigeria but it is expensive to achieve all in a short while, even while money is had to get.
” The total cost for the construction of the eastern Railline is between 12 and 14 billion dollars.if we are to wait for that, we might have to wait for two Government”
“If we start looking for the money,we will not construct. So, I told the federal government to give me approval to construct the narrow gauge rail and another approval to get money for standard guage”
Explaining the difference between the two guage, he said
“The difference between the Narrow gauge and The standard guage is the speed”
The Chairman of the Joint budget committee on marine transport, Senator Danjuma Goje, also stated that eyes will be on the issue of revenue due to the council for the regulation of freight forwarding in Nigeria.