EASTERN RAIL PROJECT: PROMISE BROKEN, AS FG FAILED TO SECURE FUNDING FOR EASTERN RAIL PROJECT

The eastern rail project is a massive infrastructure that will link Port Harcourt through Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Plateau, Bauchi, Yobe and down to Maiduguri the project will be embarked upon by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The aim of the project is to link the South-South, South-East and North-Eastern part of Nigeria through rail transportation Network, this will improve the socio-economic activities between the regions involved in the project. The project awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) is valued at about $3 billion and measures 1, 443 km 1,067 mm narrow gauge rail line.

The project with so much potentials to link the North East, South-South-South and South-East have stalled due to lack of loan funding from lending partners. In a report by Stephen Angbulu the Hon. Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Sambo while speaking to correspondents after FEC meeting stated that “Now, the truth of the matter is that if there was a promise to deliver this line before the end of this administration, this promise is no longer feasible because…funding has been a major challenge for this project.”

In light of the current admission of the Honourable Minister about the inability of the government to fulfil its promise of delivering the Eastern Rail before its tenure end in May 2023, this promise has been rated “Broken”.

Reference:

Stephen Angbulu. “Lack of funds halts Eastern railway project —FG” Punch 22 December, 2022.

https://punchng.com/lack-of-funds-halts-eastern-railway-project-fg/ accessed 02, January 2023.

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