I have no problem with revitalizing our rail system, especially at this time when the major high ways have fallen into coma. My major concern on this issue is if the Federal Government has faith in realising this dream to become true. Three years ago, the same Federal Government approved contract for the dualisation of KANO-MAIDUGURI road which is expected to be completed within a span period of the same three (3) yearshttp://busuguma.blogspot.com/2008/09/fed-govt-of-nigeria-proposes-n16.html (http://busuguma.blogspot.com/2008/09/fed-govt-of-nigeria-proposes-n16.html)
That N16 billion from feds gov can be used to sort out the niger delta provide for them amma su they are thinking about something that is not that important let people walk or ride there cars alhamdulilahi. We have enuff CO2 thats damaging our atmosphere already.
Revitalizing the Rail system is not only needed but actually necessary. The transport system is very critical to economic development. The roads here are nothing more than death traps. All those heavy duty vehicles (trucks/tankers) plying the roads have contributed in no small measure in destroying the roads, apart from causing accidents on a daily basis where dozens die. With a good rail system, a lot of traffic would be off the roads, thereby reducing accidents rate and a cheaper cost of transporting goods, which will in turn result in lower cost of goods and services. So in a nutshell, the benefits are many and varied.
However, this could all be mere talk. The FG had been talking re-laying the Lagos-Kano rail track for the past two years, and nothing was done. This is naija ;)
With a good rail system in place, cost of living will become 80% cheaper for Nigerians
Ana wata ga wata (hausawa su fassara min wannan karin maganar)
FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration was again in the eye of the storm at the House of Representatives yesterday as his government was said to have paid $250 million to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) allegedly without due approval.
The issue which came up through a motion moved by the House member representing Obior/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Ike Chinwo, led to another allegation that the former government paid out the sum of $8.3 billion to the Chinese company for a project that was estimated to cost $2.5 billion.
Moving the motion sponsored by 42 members on the matter, the lead sponsor, Chinwo, said out of the total 3,557 kilometres railway network in the country, about 3,505 is on antiquated narrow gauge and seeking attention. The lawmaker said that the Federal Government, in a bid to modernise the rail system, fashioned out a $35 billion four-phased 23-year project and the first phase of 1,315 kilometres from Lagos to Kano was awarded at a cost higher than the estimated amount.
"The House is concerned that the first phase of the project spanning 1,315 kilometres from Lagos to Kano, estimated to cost $2.5 billion in line with the international per kilometre rate for railway modernisation projects was awarded for $8.3billion to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) for take-off of the project," he said.
Chinwo further claimed that in spite of the $250 million released to the contractor for the take-off of the project, Nigerians were yet to see any improvement in the rail sector. He, therefore, urged the chamber to allow the committee on land transport, when reconstituted, to investigate the matter adding: "We need to know what happened and where are the contractors."
Ndudi Godwin Elumelu from Delta State noted that the issue touched on the heart of the nation and urged the House to use its power to get to the root of the matter in line with the oath of office taken by members. He further said that the founding fathers of the nation placed much emphasis on land transport, stressing that if the rail system in the country was working, Nigerians would not experience the traffic snarl like the type in Lagos and some other cities in the country.
Abdul Ningi from Bauchi State said the state of the railway portrayed the condition of the country. He said that the National Assembly in the last dispensation, bent backward to assist the executive to realise the dream of improving rail transport in the country but it was unfortunate that the whole exercise was frustrated. Ningi lamented that those who caused the problem were still walking freely on the street of Nigeria. Dino Melaye from Kabba Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency of Kogi State said the motion was a test of the commitment of members to democracy in the country and should be supported.
Igo Aguma from Port Harcourt 1 Federal Constituency of Rivers State disclosed that some downstream projects, including the rail system, tied to allocation of oil blocks had been abandoned after the oil blocks, were acquired. Both Aguma and his colleague, Leo Ogor representing Isoko Federal Constituency in Delta State painted a terrible picture of under-hand deals in the allocation of the blocks saying: "As we speak, MOUs are being signed right, left and centre without recourse to the constitution."
Yakubu Barde from Kaduna State who was the chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport until the dissolution of committees by the leadership of the House, disclosed to the chamber that in 1995, a contract for the overhaul of the nation's rail system was awarded to the tune of $598 million but out of the 60 locomotives brought into the country, only five of them were functional. He said the former president, Obasanjo, set up a committee when he came to power in 1999 but unfortunately, the Nigerian Railway Corporation was not involved only for the transport ministry to sign another contract for $70 million with the Chinese firm, asking: "What is the justification for bringing in the same Chinese company?"
The former chairman also said that in 2001, the same government paid $10 million to the same company and with about three months to the end of the Obasanjo's government paid another $250 million out of the contract sum of $8.3 billion without any provision for it in the budget.
The Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, put the question and it was unanimously agreed that the projects be investigated.
http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=190908&ptitle=Reps%20query%20$250m%20payment%20to%20firm%20for%20railway (http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=190908&ptitle=Reps%20query%20$250m%20payment%20to%20firm%20for%20railway)